April 2019: New regulations
The latest legislation, guidance and consultation.
Legislation:
Carbon emissions
Comes into force: 12 February 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Finance Act 2019 has limited environmental relevance but does contain some provisions relating to climate change levy exemptions, landfill tax rates and most significantly, the introduction of a new carbon emissions tax.
Merchant shipping
Comes into force: 01 March 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 2019 implement Annex 1 (on the prevention of pollution by oil) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1998 ('MARPOL').
Water pollution
Comes into force: 11 March 2019
Northern Ireland
The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 prohibit the use of microbeads as an ingredient in the manufacture of rinse-off personal care products and the sale of any such products containing microbeads.
Landfill tax
Comes into force: 01 April 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Finance Act 2019, Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and the Scottish Landfill Tax (Standard Rate and Lower Rate) Order 2019 set the landfill tax rates for 2019. The standard rate is £91.35 per tonne, with the lower rate at £2.90. Wales also has an additional unauthorised disposals rate of £137.
Guidance:
Pollution prevention
Comes into force: 01 February 2019
Scotland and Northern Ireland
New Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) has been published, to help anyone who is responsible for storing and handling drums and Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs).
Energy
Comes into force: 31 January 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's Environmental Reporting Guidelines have been updated to include streamlined energy and carbon reporting, which requires all UK quoted companies to report on their global energy use in addition to greenhouse gas emissions.
Consultation:
Air pollution
Comes into force: 14 February 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeks views on the draft UK National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP). This will set out how the UK will meet legally binding emission reduction commitments.
Waste management
Comes into force: 18 February 2019
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The government has developed a set of four new Consultations to improve the UK's waste management, reduce plastic pollution and move UK business towards a circular economy.