April 2018: New regulations
A round-up of new regulations this month.
Legislation
Pollution prevention
Enters into force: 30 January 2018
England, Wales
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 are now in force and introduce permitting requirements for medium combustion plants (MCPs) and specified generators.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Enters into force: 22 February 2018
Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England
The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (Amendment) Regulations 2018 aim to enhance the enforcement of the EU regulations that were introduced to support Regulation (EU) 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases. Civil penalties for infringements of the EU regulation will be introduced from April 2018.
WEEE
Enters into force: 1 March 2018
Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2018 aim to clarify the rights of local authorities in relation to designated collection facilities and insert a new reporting requirement for WEEE sent for treatment or reuse outside the UK.
Landfill
Enters into force: 1 April 2018
Wales
The Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2018 brings the Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017 fully into force on 1 April 2018. In addition, the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) Regulations 2018 set the standard and lower rates for the tax.
Air pollution
Enters into force: 1 July 2018
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
The National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018 set out national emission ceilings to be achieved and implement Directive 2016/2284/EU relating to national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants. They come into force in July 2018.
cedr.ec/4x8
Consultations
Climate change
Enters into force: 12 February 2018
England, Scotland, Wales
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has published a consultation on the proposed strategy for the third round of the Adaptation Reporting Power. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the government can ask certain organisations to produce reports on the effects of climate change.
Environment and agriculture
Enters into force: 27 February 2018
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs seeks views on the proposals for the future of the environment and agriculture after the UK leaves the European Union. It sets out some general and specific ideas for environmental and agriculture policy post-Brexit.
Guidance
Waste
Enters into force: 9 February 2018
England
The Environment Agency has issued a position statement regarding waste carrier, broker and dealer registration renewals due after 25 March 2018.