Stay Informed: The Latest Legislative Updates in Resources & Waste Management

Click here to access legislation updates from previous newsletters.

Keeping up with ever-evolving regulations is crucial for professionals in the resources and waste sector. This page provides a continuously updated overview of the latest legislative changes, regulatory guidance, and policy developments from key agencies, including the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

We ensure that the most recent updates appear at the top, helping you stay ahead of industry changes. Whether you’re looking for compliance insights, policy shifts, or new guidance, you’ll find the latest information here. Check back regularly to stay up to date.

General Guidance

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
HMRC	UK	28/08/26	Preparing to use a mass balance approach for Plastic Packaging Tax – guidance
HMRC	UK	28/08/26	Minimum certification requirements for a mass balance approach for Plastic Packaging Tax – guidance
EU Commission	EU	03/09/26	Commission Staff Working Document: Assessment of the sustainability of plastic waste exports to OECD countries pursuant to Article 45(5) of Regulation 2024/1157 on shipments of waste
UK Government	UK	07/09/26	Tyres: Waste Disposal – question for Defra re. Annex VII verification procedure and answer from Emma Hardy
UK Government	UK	07/09/26	Tyres: Waste Disposal – question for Defra re. T8 waste exemption timelines and answer from Emma Hardy
UK Government	UK	07/09/26	Tyres: Waste Disposal – question for Defra re. reinstating the insistence on digital Annex VII prior to shipment and the insistence on geo-tagged location evidence of individual container shipments and answer from Emma Hardy
DESNZ	UK	07/09/26	UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS): policy overview – updated policy paper (technical consultation on UK ETS free allocation rules for hydrogen production)
DAERA	Northern Ireland	08/09/26	Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) Charging Scheme 2026
DAERA	Northern Ireland	08/09/26	Northern Ireland EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme 2026
DAERA	Northern Ireland	08/09/26	Northern Ireland UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme 2026
DAFM	Ireland	08/09/26	Remaining dates for the 2026 Farm Hazardous Waste Collection Days
Defra	UK	08/09/26	Report receipt of waste: choose a software provider – updated list of compatible software providers
Defra & EA	UK	08/09/26	Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – updated collection
DESNZ	UK	08/09/26	Local net zero: support for local authorities and communities – updated guidance
EA	England	09/09/26	Monitoring stack emissions: carbon capture plants with solvent-based abatement – updated guidance
EA	England & Wales	09/09/26	Noise impact assessments involving calculations or modelling – updated guidance
Defra	UK	10/09/26	Register for EPR for packaging: create your registration file – updated guidance
HMRC	UK	10/09/26	Introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – updated policy paper
DESNZ	UK	10/09/26	Taking part in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme markets – updated Cost Containment Mechanism figures

Environmental Permit Applications

This information relates to Environmental Permits/Licences applicable to ‘Industrial Emissions Directive’ and ‘Waste’ installations, and Radioactive Substance activity notices only. It does not include ‘Water Quality’ applications.

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
SEPA	Scotland	03/09/26	Draft decision consultation: EAS/P/6101812 – MIALGAE Limited: Earls Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8XG
EA	England	04/09/26	HU12 0DG, Richard Sadler, Howard Sadler and Beverley Sadler: environmental permit application advertisement – EPR/RP3028MM/A002
EA	England	07/09/26	SW1X 7AW, Cleveland Clinic London Ltd: environmental permit application advertisement – EPR/XB3557KE/A001
EA	England	07/09/26	SP4 6HQ, Harvey Farms (Winterbourne) Limited: permit surrender issued – EPR/LP3539UR/S008
EA	England	07/09/26	S10 2JF, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: environmental permit issued – EPR/WP3623MF/A001
EA	England	08/09/26	LN13 9NU, L.J. Fairburn and Son Limited: environmental permit issued – EPR/QP3722MU/A001
EA	England	08/09/26	LE9 3GP, OCL Regeneration Limited: environmental permit issued – EPR/JP3222LF/A001
EA	England	08/09/26	S71 3HJ, Donald Ward Limited: environmental permit application advertisement – EPR/YP3826MQ/A001
EA	England	08/09/26	PE10 0DN, Lincolnshire County Council: environmental permit application advertisement – EPR/DB3705KN/V003
EA	England	09/09/26	WS10 7NR, Biffa Waste Services Limited: environmental permit issued – EPR/XP3631SE/C005
EA	England	10/09/26	RM9 6QD, Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited: environmental permit application advertisement – EPR/BB3005TG/V003
NRW	Wales	10/09/26	Sandycroft Poultry Processing, Glendale Avenue, Sandycroft, Flintshire, CH5 2QP – initial variation application Consultation

Reports & Research

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
WRAP	Wales	2/9/2026	Flexible plastic kerbside collection trial
ZWS	Scotland	8/9/2026	CirCoFin feasibility study for Scotland
EPA	Ireland	10/9/2026	Annual Report and Accounts for 2025
Alliance to end Plastic Waste	Global	10/9/2026	Progress Report 2025 – Strategy in Action

Consultations

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
UK, Welsh, Scottish Govs & DAERA	UK	08/09/26	UK ETS free allocation rules for hydrogen production – open consultation
Defra	UK	10/09/26	Amendments to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2026 – consultation outcome

Statistics & Data

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
Defra	UK	4/9/2026	Defra statistics release calendar, annual and monthly – updated
EA	UK	8/9/2026	Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) public registers – updated

Regulatory Position Statements

Issuing authority	Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
EA	England	07/09/26	Storing waste PFOA-containing firefighting foams and wastes from their decontamination and replacement: RPS 376 – guidance
EA	England	10/09/26	U1: using waste in construction – updated guidance

Statutory Instruments (SIs)

Applicable to:	Date of issue	Details
UK	7/9/2026	2026 No. 802 – The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Administrative Provisions) Regulations 2026 – correction slip
UK	9/9/2026	2026 No. 995 – The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Emissions and Verification) Regulations 2026

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Rural crime in Westminster spotlight

Sellafield celebrates 10 years of nuclear clean up innovation

Minister Heydon opens Ireland’s first on-farm integrated grass-biorefinery and anaerobic-digestion demonstration plant

FEAD’s key demands for competition in waste markets and competitiveness of the sector

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