A4.7.4 Best Available Techniques (BAT)
BAT evolved from BATNEEC, which is ‘Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost’ and was an important element of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The idea was that to prevent pollution, an organization should use the best available processes and technology, but not if they involved excessive costs. The ‘NEEC’ was removed, leaving BAT, which expects the organization to simply use the best available processes and technology.