The latest legislation, guidance and consultation.
Legislation:
Waste
Comes into force: 21 February 2019
Wales
The Household Waste Duty of Care (Fixed Penalties) (Wales) Regulations 2019 provide waste authorities in Wales with the power to issue a fixed penalty notice instead of a conviction for an offence of failing to comply with the new household waste duty of care.
Air emissions
Comes into force: 21 February 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Alternative Fuel Labelling and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 standardise the labelling and information of types of motor vehicle fuel. They set requirements for fuel retailers, vehicle manufacturers and vehicle dealers.
RoHS
Comes into force: 12 June 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2019 correct some unintended consequences of widening the definition of electrical and electronic equipment products. They also stop the restriction on selling second-hand products and repairing with spare parts.
Waste and water pollution
Comes into force: Pending
EU
The EU has voted on a Proposal to ban single-use plastics by 2021. The ban will see the end of plastics such as straws, knives, forks, earbuds and plates, as well as drinks containers made of expanded polystyrene and all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.
Guidance:
Pollution prevention
Comes into force: 1 March 2019
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
New Guidance for Pollution Prevention aims to provide an overview of the environmental legislation that may apply to small microbreweries and microdistilleries, particularly where they may not have dedicated staff specialising in environmental legislation.
Biodiversity
Comes into force: 26 March 2019
England
The Environment Agency has produced a Regulatory Position Statement, which, if you follow its conditions, allows you to dispose of, treat or bury invasive non-native plant material (such as Japanese knotweed) without an environmental permit.
Regulatory charges
Comes into force: 1 April 2019
England and Wales
The Environment Agency has issued revised guidance on charges to cover the costs of regulating your activity. This covers things like waste, abstraction licences, environmental permitting and emissions trading.
Environmental permitting
Comes into force: 1 April 2019
England and Wales
In order to help businesses cope with the disruption of an EU Exit, the Environment Agency has set up a page which will host Regulatory Position Statements relating to environmental permitting and licensing, where they will not take action if you can't comply because of EU Exit.
