The latest legislation, guidance and consultation.
Legislation
Climate change
31 January 2020
England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2020 make numerous technical amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2012.
Waste
16 January 2020
Northern Ireland
The Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 make amendments to various waste regulations in Northern Ireland. They implement amendments made to Directive 2008/98/EC, on waste, to replace references to the Waste Management Strategy with Waste Management Plan.
General environment
23 January 2020
England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 has now received royal assent and been passed into law. It implements the agreement made between the UK and the EU regarding the arrangements for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Biodiversity
11 February 2020
England
The Countryside Stewardship (England) Regulations 2020 opens the countryside stewardship grant scheme for applications. The scheme will provide funding for environmental improvements through activities such as restoring habitats, conservation of habitats, managing flood risks, and pollution reduction.
Waste
1 April 2020
Wales
The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 set the standard rate for landfill disposals tax at £94.15 per tonne for disposals made on or after 1 April 2020. The lower rate will be set to £3 per tonne and the unauthorised disposals rate at £141.20 per tonne. cedr.ec/6lz
Guidance
Waste
13 January 2020
England
The Environment Agency has issued a regulatory position statement (RPS) on 'Collecting non-hazardous, non-food waste from different premises at a single site: RPS 224'. If you comply with this RPS you can collect waste that is produced at different premises within a single identifiable site, and store it within the same site. cedr.ec/6lv
Waste
13 January 2020
England
The Environment Agency has issued a regulatory position statement (RPS) on 'Collecting food waste from different premises at a single site: RPS 225'. If you comply with this RPS you can collect, but not treat, food waste produced at different premises within a single identifiable site, and store it within the same site. cedr.ec/6lu
Consultation
Biodiversity
Pending
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity has published the zero draft plan of its post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The framework establishes five long-term goals for 2050 that are related to the UN's vision for biodiversity. It is expected to be adopted by governments at a UN summit in Kunming, China, in October this year.
