Fortnightly Bulletin – 1st February 2021
1 February 2021
Legal Updates
Denaturing controlled drugs that have become waste: RPS 4
If you comply with the conditions in this regulatory position statement (RPS) you can store, sort and denature (alter the qualities of) waste controlled drugs that have become waste, at another place.
Controlled drugs are defined in Schedules 1 to 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities: RPS C20
This RPS covers when you can delay and reschedule some emissions to air and water monitoring and other environmental monitoring because of COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions.
This COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) replaces Monitoring emissions from some environmental permitting activities: RPS C7 which expired on 30 September 2020. Previous agreements to use RPS C7 will not cover non-compliances arising after 30 September 2020. If you obtained the EA’s agreement to operate under RPS C7, you will need to do so again if you want to operate under its replacement, RPS C20.
Reporting for installations, radioactive substances and waste permits: RPS C21
This RPS covers when you can delay submitting data, reports and other records required by your environmental permit because of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
This COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) replaces Reporting for installations, radioactive substances and waste permits: RPS C10 which expired on 30 September 2020. Previous notifications under RPS C10 will not cover non-compliances arising after 30 September 2020. If you notified the EA you were operating under RPS C10, you will need to do so again if you want to operate under its replacement, RPS C21.
Exceeding storage limits at permitted sites for waste plastic: RPS
If you have prior written agreement from the Environment Agency and comply with the conditions in this regulatory position statement (RPS), you can temporarily store more waste plastic than the storage limits your permit allows.
This RPS only applies if you can demonstrate that you need to temporarily store more waste plastic than your permit allows because of disruption caused by changes to the Basel Convention. See the guidance Importing and exporting waste plastic.
Articles of Interest
Spotlight on renewables: How did the UK’s energy mix change in 2020?
EU data released this week revealed that renewable generation overtook coal and gas in 2020. But what happened in the UK’s renewable energy markets in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic? Here, we round up the key facts and stats on capacity and output.
A study from think-tanks Ember and Agora Energiewende made headlines earlier this week, with readers celebrating the fact that renewables became Europe’s main source of electricity generation in 2020. The headline finding was that renewables generated 38% of the EU’s electricity last year as the share of fossil fuels in the generation mix fell to 37%. Nuclear power accounted for the bulk of the remaining 25%. Due to Brexit, the study’s figures do not account for the UK.
BEIS has not yet published data for 2020 Q4 but claims that the UK’s total renewable generation capacity grew by 1.2GW between Q3 of 2019 and Q3 of 2020. In terms of generation, renewables accounted for 40.2% of generation between January and the end of September 2020, while the fossil fuel share, buoyed by coal, stood at 42.5%.
With all of this in mind, edie has decided to take a closer look at the trends which shaped the nation’s renewable energy sector against a turbulent year of events.
Source: edie.net January 2021
Fines and Prosecutions
Lincolnshire man prosecuted for waste failings
A South Lincolnshire businessman has been given an 18-week suspended prison sentence for storing and burning waste illegally at a site in Gedney Dyke, despite repeated warnings from the Environment Agency. He was also ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling nearly £7,000.
Under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, the deposit, treatment and storage of waste are permitted only with a permit issued by the Environment Agency.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 prohibits the storage of waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution or harm to human health, including causing pollution by fire.
Source: EA January 2021
Online learning and events
Webinar: Taking net zero action in 2021 – The business opportunity
10th February 2021 @ 10:00
Following the publication of the government’s ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’, the National Infrastructure Strategy and the much-anticipated Energy White Paper, momentum is growing to turn this ambition into action.
This webinar will provide an insight into some of the things which business’ need to prepare for, and what actions can be taken now to develop a net zero strategy in 2021.
Click for more details and to register online
