New regulations: May
The latest legislation, guidance and consultation.
Legislation
Recycling
Pending
Scotland
The Draft Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 aim to promote and secure an increase in recycling by making sure the targeted materials are collected in larger quantities, and separately to other materials. cedr.ec/6ri
Waste
Pending
Wales
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government has confirmed that by 2021, Wales will ban single-use plastics as part of wider measures that hope to make Wales the top recycling nation in the world. A consultation is expected in the coming months. cedr.ec/6rj
Waste
30 April 2020
England
New draft regulations have been published for England that aim to restrict the supply of single-use plastic straws, single-use plastic-stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers, in order to prevent pollution of the environment or harm to the health of humans and animals.
Climate change
European Union
The European Commission has set out its proposal for a new European Climate law, which will write into legislation the goal set out in the European Green Deal for the European economy to be climate-neutral by 2050.
Guidance
Liability
10 March 2020
Northern Ireland
Non-statutory guidance produced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs provides extensive information on understanding the requirements and application of the Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. cedr.ec/6ro
Environmental Permitting
17 March 2020
England
The Environment Agency has published a Policy Paper on Safe and Sustainable Sludge Use. From 2021, sludge and septic tank sludge will be included into the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, and as a result, the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 will no longer be needed. cedr.ec/6rz
Consultation
Recycling
11 March 2020
England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland
HM Revenue and Customs seeks views on the detailed design, implementation and administration of a plastic packaging tax to ensure it meets the government's environmental objectives while placing only proportionate burdens on businesses. cedr.ec/6rq
Climate change
12 March 2020
England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland
The Department for Work and Pensions is seeking views on non-statutory guidance for occupational pensions on assessing, managing and reporting climate-related risks in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. cedr.ec/6rr