A. vs Municipality of Ecublens Country/Territory Switzerland Type of court National - higher court Date Sep 27, 2013 Source UNEP, InforMEA Court name First Administrative Court of the Federal Tribunal Seat of court Lausanne Judge NA Reference number 1C_185/2013 Language French Subject Waste & hazardous substances, Air & atmosphere Keyword Emission standards Air quality standards Air pollution (stationary sources) Abstract A. had operated for many years a coating plant in the Municipality of Ecublens. Residents of the area surrounding the plant complained about important disturbances regarding dust and odour emitted by this plant.The cantonal authority competent for regulating air emission (the SEVEN) required the operator to comply with an emission limit value (50 mg/m3) with regard to its organic carbon emissions.In parallel with this procedure, the Water Protection, Soils and Waste Management Office of Vaud Canton (the SESA) issued a temporary authorization to operate a waste treatment and disposal facility. This authorization required the operator to fulfil a number of obligations and conditions. In particular, the operator didn’t have the right to utilize recycled waste into the coating plant in order to reduce air emissions.The operator requested the First Administrative court of the Federal Tribunal to quash the judgement of the Administrative Tribunal of the Canton of Vaud that confirmed the decision taken by the SESA.According to the applicant, the decision taken by the SESA would represent an infringement of its economic freedom, a violation of the proportionality principle and would not be justified by any public interest.The Court dismissed the appeal considering that utilization of recycled materials in the plant must comply with regulation on air protection. In that prospect, the restriction imposed by the SESA will permit to reduce air emissions. Full text 1C 185 2013_0.pdf