Management and Compliance Bulletin &#8211; 14th April 2025

Storing waste at a collection point: RPS 269

This Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to get an environmental permit to temporarily store food waste, separately collected recyclable waste, and mixed municipal waste.

However, the Environment Agency (EA) will not normally take enforcement action against you if do not comply with these legal requirements provided:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS.
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies to the temporary storage of the following waste types before it is transported to a suitable permitted facility for recovery:

food waste (waste code 20 01 08),
glass – such as drinks bottles and rinsed empty food jars (waste code 15 01 07),
metal – such as drinks cans and rinsed empty food tins, aluminium foil, aluminium food trays and tubes (waste code 15 01 04 and 20 01 40),
plastic – such as rinsed empty food containers and bottles and other plastics (waste code 15 01 02 and 20 01 39),
paper and cardboard – such as old newspapers, envelopes, delivery boxes and packaging (waste code 15 01 01 and 20 01 01),
mixed municipal waste (waste code 20 03 01),
dry mixed recyclables and composite packaging (waste codes 15 01 05 and 15 01 06).

This RPS is aimed at waste collections using small waste collection vehicles to navigate areas where standard waste collection vehicles cannot go, for example, around inner-city boroughs such as Westminster.

This RPS cannot be used at sites with an existing environmental permit for a waste operation or installation.

The EA will review this RPS by 1 March 2028.

Source: GOV.UK

Storing food waste in sealed containers: RPS 332

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you store sealed containers of food waste, before they are transported to another place for recovery.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if do not comply with these legal requirements provided:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS.
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies to:

the temporary storage of sealed containers of food waste (waste code 20 01 08).
suppliers to food outlets who backhaul food waste to their distribution centres for bulking and temporary storage before it is sent for recovery.

This RPS cannot be used at sites with an existing environmental permit for a waste operation or installation.

You must:

only receive food waste which has been placed into containers and sealed where the food waste was produced.
only store food waste in the original container that it arrived in.
keep records for 2 years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the EA on request.

You must notify the EA before you use this RPS by emailing wastetreatement@environment-agency.gov.uk and include:

‘RPS 332’ in the subject,
operator name,
addresses of all your locations that will be using this RPS,
contact details.

You must not:

open the sealed container in which the food waste arrives.
store more than 16 tonnes of food waste at any one time.
store waste for longer than 7 days before onwards transportation for recovery.
carry out any waste treatment activities.

The EA will review this RPS by 1 March 2028.

Source: GOV.UK

End of life vehicles used for training at educational establishments: RPS 328

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you store and use End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) that will be used for training in educational establishments.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS.
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies to the storage and associated use of ELVs at the point of use for training at educational establishments. For example, the training of vehicle mechanics or body repair technicians.

You must:

only store or use up to five ELVs at any one time.
only source ELVs from an authorised treatment facility.
store the ELVs within a building or on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage.
store any parts removed from ELVs on impermeable surface with sealed drainage.
send any waste ELVs and parts that you do not need to an authorised treatment facility or regulated waste facility as soon as practicable after use.
keep records for three years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the EA on request.

You must not:

sell parts from any vehicles covered by this RPS.
store vehicles longer than is necessary for the purposes of training.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 31 January 2028.

Source: GOV.UK

To assess the T11 waste exemption, click here.

Transport, vehicles, vehicle parts and metal: LRWP 44 (withdrawn)

The EA provides Low Risk Waste Positions (LRWPs) for waste operations that it considered may be suitable for an exemption.

LRWP 44: Transport, vehicles, vehicle parts and metal has been withdrawn and replaced with RPS 328: ELVs used for training at educational establishments.

Source: GOV.UK

Collecting and storing food waste: LRWP 84 (withdrawn)

The EA provides LRWPs for waste operations that it considered may be suitable for an exemption.

LRWP 84: Collecting and storing food waste has been withdrawn and replaced with RPS 332: Storing food waste in sealed containers.

Source: GOV.UK

Storing and treating waste domestic gas boilers: LRWP 40 (withdrawn)

The EA provides LRWPs for waste operations that it considered may be suitable for an exemption.

LRWP 40: Storing and treating waste domestic gas boilers has been withdrawn. Operators should assess if they are able to use and be compliant with the T11 waste exemption for this activity.

Source: GOV.UK

SR2024 No 1: Research and development at a Part A(1) installation

The EA has produced a standard rules permit for research and development activities which support products and processes associated with permitted activities at Part A(1) installations. These standard rules allow operators of installations to carry out research and development activities for the innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes associated with the permitted activities, providing they can meet the rules.

Source: GOV.UK

To read the standard rules, click here.

MCERTS for automatic water sampling

The EA has set up the Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTS) to provide guidance on the standards you must meet to monitor emissions that affect the environment. They have based the scheme on international standards. It provides for the product certification of instruments, the competency certification of personnel, and the accreditation of laboratories. This guidance is for:

manufacturers of automatic water sampling equipment who need to know what standards to meet to be able to use their equipment for regulatory purposes in England and Wales.
test organisations who carry out testing of the equipment on behalf of manufacturers to see if it meets the required standard.

The EA designed MCERTS to support the measurement requirements specified in environmental permits by making sure that equipment used to derive monitoring data is fit for purpose.

Source: GOV.UK

Installing small-scale monitoring instruments and associated equipment alongside in main river watercourses: RPS 333

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to obtain and comply with an environmental permit for the flood risk activity of physically installing small-scale monitoring equipment in or near a statutory main river.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS,
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS,
your activity does not cause (and is not likely to cause) increased flood risk or impediment to land drainage,
your activity does not cause (and is not likely to cause) pollution of or harm to the environment or harm to human health.

This RPS applies to the installation of temporary (up to ten years) monitoring equipment in a statutory main river and associated instrument cabinets and similar on adjacent ground. The need for the equipment must be reviewed within ten years at the latest. The equipment must be removed as soon as practical if not required, or a new notification made for a further ten years if necessary.

If you cannot meet these requirements you must apply for a permit.

You must:

keep records to show you have complied with this RPS from when you start using it until two years after you finish using it,
make these records available to the EA on request,
notify the EA of every location where the RPS is to be used before equipment is installed by emailing RPS333rivermonitoring@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Include the following information in your email:

the grid reference location of the equipment in the format of two letters and ten digits, for example, ST 58132 72695,
a description of the specific equipment at this location (such as sensor and raised equipment box, trade names of equipment),
contact details of the operator, telephone, or email.

Multiple notifications can be made together using a spreadsheet or Geographic Information System (GIS) files. Contact the EA by emailing RPS333rivermonitoring@environment-agency.gov.uk to make sure GIS formats are suitable.

You must maintain these records along with:

photographs of the installation once operational, including before and after you restore disturbed ground,
the assessment of potential impacts on protected sites, including a habitats regulations assessment and assessment of potential impacts on SSSI, if relevant,
information about species licensing, if relevant,
the assessment of potential impacts on other protected areas or protected species, if relevant.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to obtain other permissions from any other statutory authority, including other functions of the EA if relevant, such as water quality or, where required, navigation.

The EA will review this RPS by 29 February 2028.

Source: GOV.UK

Monitoring stack emissions: Quality assurance of continuous monitoring

The EA has published guidance for operators, test laboratories, and equipment suppliers on the quality assurance of Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS). This provides an overview of the scope of EN 14181 and the roles of those involved.

Source: GOV.UK

UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Register your installation as an ultra-small emitter

You don’t need to participate in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) if your installation emits less than 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) in the relevant period.

You can instead register your installation as an ‘ultra-small emitter’ (USE) under the Ultra-small Emitter scheme. You must continue to monitor your emissions and notify the regulator if your emissions exceed the agreed threshold.

The guidance tells you:

how to register your installation as a USE.
how to comply with your emissions targets as a USE.
what to do if your installation no longer qualifies as a USE.

Source: GOV.UK

To read the full guidance, click here

Storing and treating hazardous waste cable: RPS 276

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit when you store or treat hazardous waste cable.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if do not comply with this legal requirement provided:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS,
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies if you store and treat non-Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) waste electrical and telecommunications cable that is hazardous waste and coded as either:

17 04 10* from construction and demolition waste sources.
16 01 21* when removed from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).

You must tell the EA before you use this RPS. Email wastetreatment@environment-agency.gov.uk with:

your site address,
the maximum quantity of cable you will store at any one time under this RPS,
the maximum quantity of cable you will treat on any one day under this RPS,
‘RPS 276 – waste cable’ as the subject of the email.

You must keep records for three years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the EA on request.

Unless you can show that the cable is non-hazardous waste, you must make sure waste cable from:

construction and demolition work is dual coded and consigned as 17 04 10* and 17 04 11.
vehicles is dual coded as 16 01 21* and 16 01 22.

You must store and treat waste cable in areas which have an impermeable surface with sealed drainage.

You must not:

accept any cable that contains oil or tar,
accept any cable that includes cable from WEEE,
mix any non-WEEE cable with cable from WEEE,
mix any plastic from non-WEEE cable with plastic from WEEE cable.

You must only accept the additional cable types if your site operates under one of the permits or exemptions specified.

The EA will review this RPS by 31 December 2026

Source: GOV.UK

Reporting requirements for materials facilities: RPS 334

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to:

have an environmental permit where one is required.
comply with the reporting requirements contained in paragraph 7 of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 9 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with the elements of paragraph 7 of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 9 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 that relate to the reporting of the:

date on which a batch of input material was received.
dates on which specified output material leaves the facility.

This is provided that:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS.
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies to the reporting requirements for all notified materials facilities under Part 2 of Schedule 9 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 in England, for the dates on which both:

a batch of waste material was received at the facility.
specified output material was sent from the facility.

You must:

comply with the recording obligations in paragraph 6 of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 9 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 in full.
Report the aggregated tonnages of input material received over a three-month reporting period at your materials facility where all other fields describing the waste material are identical.
report aggregated tonnages of specified output materials leaving your materials facility in a three-month reporting period where all fields describing specified output material are identical.
keep records for two years from the date of the last use of the RPS to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the EA on request.

This RPS will expire on 1 December 2027.

Source: GOV.UK

Technical competence qualifications for standard rules permits: RPS 326

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to comply with the requirements of an approved competence scheme when your current standard rules set is consolidated into one of the following:

SR2022 No 1: treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregate.
SR2022 No 4: non-hazardous waste recycling with asbestos, hazardous batteries, cable, and WEEE storage.
SR2022 No 5: non-hazardous waste transfer with asbestos, hazardous batteries, cable, and WEEE storage.
SR2022 No 6: household waste recycling centre.

However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement, provided that:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS,
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS applies to operators who have a standard rules permit, that has been replaced by new consolidated standard rules permit.

This RPS allows operators 12 months from the date of this RPS to gain any additional qualifications required for the new consolidated permits.

The EA intends to withdraw this RPS by 13 March 2026.

Source: GOV.UK

Decommissioning standalone onshore oil and gas wells: RPS 254

When decommissioning a standalone onshore oil and gas well, this RPS does not change your legal requirement to:

get an environmental permit.
comply with other relevant legislation.

However, if you meet the requirements in the RPS, the EA will not normally take enforcement action if you do not have a permit for a mining waste operation to:

manage extractive waste from decommissioning oil and gas wells.
carry out monitoring.

This is provided that:

your activity meets the description set out in this RPS.
you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS.

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health. You must also not:

cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants, or animals,
cause a nuisance through noise or odours,
adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

This RPS only applies to decommissioning standalone onshore oil and gas wells drilled before 1 October 2013.

It does not apply to onshore oil and gas wells drilled:

on or after 1 October 2013.
for high volume, high pressure hydraulic fracturing (for a definition of hydraulic fracturing see section 50 of the Infrastructure Act 2015).

Source: GOV.UK

CL:AIRE piling guidance

Contaminated Land: Applications In Real Environments (CL:AIRE) has published a new guidance document ‘Piling and Penetrative Ground Improvement Methods on Land Affected by Contamination: Guidance on Pollution Prevention’.

This report presents guidance on assessing risks associated with, and preventing pollution from, piling and penetrative ground improvement methods, with a specific focus on their use on land affected by contamination. It also covers some specific aspects that are not solely related to contaminated sites, including the issues of turbidity from piling and the risk of it affecting water quality at abstraction wells, as well as the use of support fluids.

The EA originally published technical guidance for piling in 2001. This version captures research since then into the effects of piling on contaminant migration, supplemented by a literature review and industry consultation. A framework is provided that identifies various factors that affect the risk of adverse effects from piling, and these are classified as low, medium, and high risk. Seven possible pollution scenarios have been identified and described, representing situations where there is the potential for piling or penetrative ground improvement operations to cause pollution.

The EA appointed CL:AIRE to update the guidance.

Source: CL:AIRE

The standard can be found here.

Articles

Update to ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems

The new draft of ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems came out for public consultation in January. The initial mandate was for light-touch amendment but lots of small changes have been made to the standard. Many of the changes are text to align with the new harmonised structure across environmental management standards, such as ISO9001, so they have common terms and clauses.

The revision also aims to provide a clarification of requirements associated with key topics.

The ISO technical committee responsible for the standard aim to publish the document as ISO 14001:2026 instead of as a new amendment. As a consequence, the final publication will be as a full document thereby saving users from needing ISO 14001:2015 and the amendment document. Subject to International Accreditation Fund (IAF) Resolution there is likely to be a two to three year transition.

The overarching changes are the following:

Incorporation of harmonized content (see above).
The term ‘International Standard’ changes to ‘document’.
The term ‘fulfil compliance obligations’ changes to ‘meet compliance obligations’.
The term ‘maintain documented information’ changes to ‘shall be made available as documented information’.

Specific changes:

The new ISO14002 series of standards (guidance on focussed environmental aspects, such as water, climate, waste, and resources) get a mention in the introduction.
The definition of risk has been removed, as the word ‘risk’ is not used whereas ‘risk and opportunities’ has been defined (as per ISO 1440:2015) and is used.
The definition of ‘outsource’ had been deleted and is no longer in the document – see 8.1 – and now referred to as ‘externally provided processes’.
A new section on planning and managing changes has been pulled into the main text from Annex A.

Key text with changes includes the following sections:

Scope – removal of ‘consistent with the organisation’s environmental policy’.
4.1 Understanding the organisation and its context has been expanded to include a list of environmental issues affected by, or capable of, affecting the organisation including ‘natural resources’ and ‘biological diversity’.
4.2 Understanding needs of interested parties has a new note on possible needs and expectations of interested parties.
4.3 Determining scope of EMS, point ‘e’ has an added in reference to lifecycle considerations.
Most of the text in 6.1.1 General has moved to a new paragraph called 6.1.4 Risks and opportunities.
6.1.2 Environmental aspects has a new note on what might be included in a life cycle perspective.
There is a new section 6.3 on Planning and managing of changes (this had been mentioned in the Annex but never before in the main text).
8.1 Operational control loses the word ‘outsourced’ to be replaced by ‘externally provided processes’ and it has some revised wording for clarification.
The text in 9.3.2 Management review inputs has changed ‘consideration’ of inputs to inputs that ‘shall include’ followed by the same list as previously.
10.1 (under 10 Improvement) has been deleted and moved to a new 10.2 to be put together with the original text that was there.

The Annex remains but has been expanded and is a great resource for finding out more:

Management of change has moved to 6.3 but a significant amount of explanation remains in the Annex.
A.3 Clarification of concepts includes overarching changes.
A.6.1.4 Planning has a new section for 6.1.4 Risks and Opportunities.
6.1.5 Planning action has extended information.
Annex B showing the changes between 2015 and 2024 editions has been removed.

Source: bsigroup.com

Government ambition to end sewage discharges into Windermere

Environment Secretary Steve Reed, pledged to “clean up Windermere” setting out the Government’s support for the long-term ambition of “only rainwater” entering England’s largest lake.

This comes ahead of a thorough feasibility study – established by the ‘Only Rainwater’ local coalition including United Utilities, the EA, Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority), Save Windermere, Love Windermere, the Lake District National Park authority, and Westmorland and Furness Council. The study will determine what would be needed to eliminate sewage discharges into the lake, drawing on successful examples and innovation from around the world to create a roadmap for delivery.

As a first step, government is working on new methods to reduce pollution from private sewage discharges into Windermere. Along with new treatment plants and enhanced maintenance, the government is supporting the delivery of ‘First-Time Sewerage’ schemes which provide a mechanism for owners of septic tanks and package treatment works to request connection to the mains sewer under certain conditions. This will be vital in consolidating the wastewater infrastructure in the catchment, enabling the EA’s long-term objective.

Mr Reed also reiterated his support for local action and regulation to protect and improve water quality, including 33 additional EA specialist officers in the region and a quadrupling of water company inspections.

Source: GOV.UK

To read the full article, click here.

European commission classifies ‘Black Mass’ as hazardous waste

The European Commission has classified shredded battery waste, also known as “black mass”, as hazardous waste as part of plans to increase the circular management of batteries and critical raw materials.

The Commission updated the List of Waste last week as part of their goal to keep batteries and their critical raw materials in the European economy for longer.

Black mass, lithium-based, nickel-based, and zinc-based waste batteries, and sodium sulphur and alkaline waste batteries are now classed as hazardous.

The European List of Waste provides common terminology for identifying and classifying all different types of waste, including hazardous waste, which can be harmful to human health and the environment.

Access to shredded battery waste is essential for electric vehicle battery recycling. The Commission said the change will “pave the way” for a more sustainable automotive sector.

Source: Circular Magazine

For the full article, click here.

SEPA and the Robertson Group launch free environmental training for construction sector

Robertson and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have launched a toolkit designed to help Scotland’s construction sector meet its legal environmental obligations and build a more sustainable future. Aimed at upskilling suppliers, sub-contractors, and individuals across the construction industry, the resources are the culmination of a joint agreement between Robertson and SEPA, which was the first in Scotland to focus on environmental performance across an entire supply chain.

Developed alongside NetRegs, the toolkit is made up of a series of environmental guidance notes and supporting videos, reflecting different learning styles. They provide practical guidance on various environmental compliance issues, as well as how to reduce waste and sustainable building practices.

Source: CIWM newsletter

To read the full article, click here

Assessing and scoring environmental permit and licence compliance

The EA has published guidance about how it assesses and scores compliance for:

abstraction and impounding licences,
discharges to surface water and groundwater permits,
radioactive substances activities permits,
waste operations and installations permits.

These guides include:

six principles which explain how the EA assesses, and scores permit compliance.
an explanation of what happens after a compliance assessment

Source: GOV.UK

To read the full consultation, click here.

Source: bsigroup.com

Government launches first action plan on pesticides in a decade

The UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) sets out how the government will work collaboratively with farmers to minimise the impacts of pesticides on people and the environment.

The plan will support UK farmers, growers, and other land managers to manage pests sustainably, safeguarding crops, and boosting productivity.

The NAP, which follows the ban on neonic pesticides in England, includes a domestic target to reduce potential environmental harm from pesticides.

Environmental risk from pesticides is to be reduced by 10% over the next five years under a new plan set out by all four UK Governments on Friday, 21 March 2025.

A new UK NAP on pesticides sets out a future of more sustainable pesticide use, which protects the environment and human health, and boosts food production for the long-term. It sets out how all four UK governments will support farmers, growers, and other land managers to voluntarily increase their use of nature friendly farming techniques and embrace alternative measures to reduce the potential harm from pesticides by 10% by 2030, while controlling pests and pesticide resistance effectively.

Pesticide resistance, climate change, and invasive species pose significant challenges to our food security.

Source: GOV.UK

To read the full article, click here.

Updated application for an environmental permit: Part B1 Standard Facilities Permit

The EA has made changes to Part B1 of the application for an environmental permit for a standard facilities permit.

The application form now includes question 4h.2 about storing, transferring, or treating specified waste outside.

Source: GOV.UK

For the full application form, click here.

Enforcement Action

Chicken manure can be classified as industrial waste, judge rules

Industrial poultry farms face tough new regulations around the disposal of chicken manure after a judge ruled it can be classified as waste, and requires a detailed and transparent plan to dispose of it without damaging the environment.

The high court ruling means new United States-style mega-farms in Herefordshire will have to deal with poultry manure as if it was industrial waste.

The ruling has implications for industrial chicken units all over the country. It comes as the English and Welsh governments announced £1m in funding to investigate the devastating pollution of the River Wye, where about 23 million chickens are being produced in the river catchment at any one time.

The health of the river, which flows for 155 miles from mid-Wales to the Severn estuary in England, has been downgraded by Natural England from ‘unfavourable-improving’ to ‘unfavourable-declining’, meaning its condition is poor and worsening. Its decline has been linked to intensive chicken farming in the catchment from the spreading of poultry manure, which contains high levels of phosphate, on to fields, which then leaches into the river.

Source: The Guardian

To read the full article, click here.

Man fined 35 times original amount after undeclared assets found

A Lincolnshire-based man was originally ordered to pay £8,317.02 after being sentenced for a waste crime in 2021. However, the EA re-opened an inquiry into his finances and discovered he had undeclared assets.

In February this year, Lincoln crown court ordered the man to pay an additional £278,492.92 in light of a property that he had not declared at the time of his sentencing. The original fine was calculated under the belief that he had limited means. He was given three months to pay the remainder or serve five years imprisonment – and was ordered to make a £1,500 contribution towards the EA’s costs.

Source: letsrecyle.com

To read the full article, click here

Environmental Monitoring Solutions Services

Environmental due diligence

In business, some liabilities may be obvious, while others may be hidden. This is why due diligence is so important if you are considering a business or land purchase.

Our complete environmental due diligence service will identify the current conditions of a business or site, and determine any liabilities or non-compliance that you may inherit through an acquisition.

For further information, click here

Consultations

Call for comments: Draft risk profile of a substance proposed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) 2025

17 March – 19 May 2025

The UK is a party to the United Nations’ Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

POPs are substances that persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms and pose a risk to our health and the environment. They can be transported by air, water, or migratory species across international borders, reaching regions where they have never been produced or used.

The Stockholm Convention’s POPs Review Committee (POPRC) has requested comments on the draft risk profile for one group of substances:

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), including mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBCDD/Fs) .Requesting comments on a draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (including mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans).

Source: GOV.UK

For more information and to comment on the draft risk profile, click here.

Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme

31 March – 30 June 2025

The Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme (EPAS) is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA’s) proposed replacement to the 2009-2019 Compliance Assessment Scheme.

After the consultation, SEPA will provide a consultation digest setting out the feedback received and what is going to be done as a result.

SEPA will start to apply the new environmental events framework and major non-compliance criteria later this year. This is to give regulated business the opportunity to gain experience of these before EPAS starts.

By the end of March 2026, SEPA will provide clarity on how and when EPAS will be implemented. This is to allow sufficient time to consider feedback from the consultation and what this means for SEPA’s digital system requirements.

Source: sepa.org.uk

To take part in the consultation, click here.

Events

Festival of Circular Economy 2025

20 -22 May 2025

Join changemakers and thought leaders from around the globe for three dynamic days of virtual live-streams and in-person connections. Dive into practical insights and inspiring use cases from the built environment and textiles sectors—two of the most resource-intensive industries. Gain strategies from sector trailblazers, explore innovative business models, and connect with circularity champions, policymakers, and innovators.

Source: CIWM

National Green Skills Conference

10 June 2025

The National Green Skills Conference focuses on what capabilities are required by the next green workforce to meet 2035 targets, and how these skills are developed e.g. career pathways: apprenticeships, new further education courses, university, etc.

The conference will also discuss the current appeal of the sector and what more can be done to attract the next generation, as well as how we can look beyond the waste and recycling sector for collaboration and engagement.

The event is set to include talks from education sector representatives, businesses, local government, recruitment consultants and real-life case studies from young professionals.

Source: Lets Recycle

CL:AIRE Members’ Networking Event, London

10 July 2025 18:00 – 22:00

CL:AIRE will be hosting a members’ networking event, in London at De Hems Dutch Bar/Pub, Soho, London W1D 5BW on 10 July 2025. It is a free event, for which registration is required and places are initially restricted to two members per company as places are limited. Food and drinks are included. To RSVP, please complete the form by Thursday 5 June 2025.

Source: CL:AIRE

Women in Sustainability and Environment Profession: Becoming an IEMA Fellow and how to demonstrate leadership

28 April 2025 13:30 – 14:30 (BST)

Are you an Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) member and a woman working in a sustainability and environment profession? This webinar is for IEMA women with existing membership grades, particularly Practitioner (PIEMA) or Full (MIEMA).

The webinar is chaired by IEMA’s CEO Sarah Mukherjee MBE, hear and be inspired by our Fellows, and speakers include: Hanifa Ymer, Chair, Australian Business Group Oman, Helen Woolston, Trainer, Assessor and mentor for IEMA, Lydia Izon-Cooper, Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist at UK Health Security Agency.

Source: IEMA