Management and Compliance Bulletin - 9th February 2026

Upcoming Legislation

Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025: Environmental Delivery Plans

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduces new powers and amends a variety of legislation. This summary concerns Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) (England) only.  

Part 3 of the Act introduces EDPs and the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), which are intended to address the likely negative environmental impacts of developments. 

Developers will be able to discharge certain environmental obligations by contributing to the NRF. These contributions will be gathered via a nature restoration levy. Funds raised will be used by Natural England or an alternative designated delivery body to deliver actions under EDPs. Levy charging schedules will be included in each EDP. 

Where EDPs are put in place and used by a developer, the developer would not be required to carry out their own ecological assessments or to deliver mitigation where the issues concerned are addressed in the EDP. 

Following consultation and approval, EDPs will be published by Natural England. 

EDPs will set out actions to be taken to address the impact of the planned development(s) on protected sites or species. The EDPs are also intended to support nature recovery and to contribute to overall improvement in the conservation status of the identified environmental feature(s). 

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 9) and Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 bring outstanding sections of the Act concerning EDPs into force on 18 February 2026.  

For the full amendment of the legislation, click here. 

Source: Greenspace 

Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) of ISO 14001:2026

The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) of ISO 14001:2026 is in the approval phase.  

The updated standard is expected to further embed the life cycle perspective, require a management of change process for the Environmental Management System (EMS) and mandate commitments on biodiversity, natural resources and climate change in the policy. 

The ISO 14001:2026 standard is expected to be published in the first half of 2026, this will replace ISO 14001:2015. 

For the full legislation, click here.  

Source: iso.org  

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

The Scottish Natural Environment Bill was introduced on 19 February 2025.  

It has passed and is awaiting Royal Assent, which is expected to occur in about a month’s time, meaning it will come into force soon.   

The final Bill will bring forward: 

• a mandatory requirement to set legally binding targets for nature restoration, 

• a new scope for national parks to help restore and regenerate biodiversity, 

• increased powers for NatureScot to intervene in deer management for nature restoration, 

• strengthening of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 to better manage Scottish seas in the face of climate change, 

• a requirement to set Ramsar sites at the same level of legal protection as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in step with best practice in Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and with national planning policy, 

• mandatory swift bricks for new buildings. 

To view the bill, as passed, click here.  

Source: parliament.scot  

Guidance

Accepting and Treating Gypsum-Based Waste: RPS 335 

This Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) was published in January 2026. This RPS does not change your legal requirement to comply with your environmental permit when you accept gypsum and cement-based waste for treatment. 

However, the Environment Agency (EA) will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with these legal requirements provided that: 

• your activity meets the description set out in this RPS, 

• you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS. 

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not: 

• cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals, 

• cause a nuisance through noise or odours, 

• adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest. 

This RPS applies if you treat gypsum or cement-based waste from plasterboard manufacturers coded and described as: 

• 10 13 01 waste raw material containing gypsum, 

• 10 13 06 particulates and dust containing gypsum, 

• 10 13 99 other gypsum wastes not otherwise specified, 

• 16 03 04 off-specification products containing gypsum or cement, 

• 19 12 12 processed gypsum waste not meeting ‘PAS109’ specification. 

Conditions you must comply with: 

You must tell the EA before you use this RPS by emailing RPS335gypsumenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with: 

• your site address and permit reference number, 

• a description of the waste you are taking, 

• the final end-use of the treated waste, for example for plasterboard manufacturing or as soil conditioner, 

• ‘RPS 335 – plasterboard manufacturing waste’ in the subject of the email. 

You must: 

• have a permit which allows you to accept and treat waste plasterboard coded as 17 08 02 or waste cement-based products coded as 17 09 04, 

• apply to vary your permit to include at least one of these codes: 10 13 01, 10 13 06, 10 13 99, 16 03 04 or 19 12 12 by 26 June 2026, 

• only accept the plasterboard manufacturing waste if you intend to recover it for use, 

• keep records for two years from the date of the last use of the RPS to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the EA on request. 

Note:  

This RPS does not apply to gypsum or cement-based waste coming from construction and demolition activities. 

The EA intends to withdraw this RPS by 21 January 2029. The EA can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the withdrawal date if they consider it necessary.  

For the full RPS, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

Construct a New or Substantially Enlarge an Existing Silage, Slurry or Agricultural Fuel Oil Store, or Store Field Silage on a New Site 

New guidance published on 26 January 2026, now requires notification to the EA if you plan to construct a new or substantially enlarge an existing silage, slurry or agricultural fuel oil store, or store field silage on a new site. 

You must notify the EA at least 14 days before you construct new storage for silage, slurry or agricultural fuel oil, or make substantial changes to an existing store. 

You’ll need to: 

• use the ‘MAGIC map’ tool to find the 10-digit national grid reference of the proposed store, 

• know the address of the store, 

• provide your contact details, 

• confirm the store is not within 10 metres of coastal waters or inland freshwaters, 

• confirm the store is not within 50 metres of a spring, well or bore-hole. 

You can choose to provide additional information to the EA such as: 

• site plans, 

• design drawings for your proposed storage, 

• a copy of the manufacturer’s specifications and guarantee if you plan to use prefabricated products, 

• soil tests if you’re constructing an earth-bank slurry store. 

If you provide the additional information, the EA can give you bespoke guidance and recommendations to make sure you build the right store in the right place. 

For the full guidance note and online notification system, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

Using Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

The existing guidance was updated on 26 January 2026 to add the following substance to the list of POPs: 

Methoxychlor 

For the full guidance note, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

U10: Spreading Waste to Benefit Agricultural Land

This exemption guidance was first issued on 28 April 2014, and updated on 26 January 2026 with new guidance about waste types that must have been treated under another exemption or permit before use, and to state that record-keeping of waste activity must be in chronological order. 

Certain waste types must have been produced under other exemptions or permits before you can use them under a U10 exemption. 

They are: 

• ash (10 01 01), 

• biobed and biofilter material (19 08 12), 

• compost (19 05 99), 

• digestate (19 06 04). 

Ash from wood chip boilers burning plant tissue and untreated wood must have been produced under ‘U4 exemption: burning waste as fuel in a small appliance’. 

Biobed and biofilter material must have been produced under ‘T32 exemption: treating waste in a biobed or biofilter’. It must be stored for at least 12 months before it is spread. 

Compost must have been produced under one of the following: 

• T23 exemption, 

• T26 exemption, 

• a permit that only allows waste types listed in T23 and T26 exemptions. 

If the compost comes from a permitted site, the facility must ensure the compost is stable, sanitised and suitable for agriculture. 

The site must be allowed to accept only the exact waste types listed in T23 or T26 exemptions. 

Compost produced from waste types listed in T23 exemption must have been made according to strict mixing ratios. This means that for every 60 tonnes of compost there must be: 

• no more than 10 tonnes of cardboard, 

• no more than 20 tonnes of manure, 

• no more than 10 tonnes of any of the following waste types: 

• animal tissue waste (02 02 02), 

• materials unsuitable for consumption or processing (02 05 01, 02 06 01), 

• biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste (20 01 08), 

• biodegradable waste from markets only (20 03 02). 

Digestate must have been treated under one of the following: 

• ‘T24 exemption: anaerobic digestion on farms’, 

• ‘T25 exemption: anaerobic digestion not done on a farm’, 

• a permit that only allows waste types listed in T24 and T25 exemptions. 

If digestate has been treated under a permit, the conditions of the permit must state that the waste is stored in the digester for at least 28 days, before going to the U10-registered site. 

You cannot use digestate from sites with a permit that allows other waste types. 

For the full guidance note, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

U11: Spreading Waste on Non-Agricultural Land

This exemption guidance was first issued on 28 April 2014, and updated on 26 January 2026 with new guidance about waste types that must have been treated under another exemption or permit before use, and to state that record-keeping of waste activity must be in chronological order. 

Certain waste types must have been produced under other exemptions or permits before you can use them under a U11 exemption. 

They are: 

• ash (10 01 01), 

• biobed and biofilter material (19 08 12), 

• compost (19 05 99), 

• digestate (19 06 04). 

Ash from wood chip boilers burning plant tissue and untreated wood must have been produced under U4 exemption: burning waste as fuel in a small appliance. 

Biobed and biofilter material must have been produced under T32 exemption: treating waste in a biobed or biofilter. It must be stored for at least 12 months before it is spread. 

Compost must have been produced under one of the following: 

• T23 exemption, 

• T26 exemption, 

• a permit that only allows waste types listed in T23 and T26 exemptions. 

If the compost comes from a permitted site, the facility must ensure the compost is stable, sanitised and suitable for agriculture. 

The site must be allowed to accept only the exact waste types listed in T23 or T26. 

Compost produced from waste types listed in T23 exemption must have been made according to strict mixing ratios. This means that for every 60 tonnes of compost there must be: 

• no more than 10 tonnes of cardboard, 

• no more than 20 tonnes of manure, 

• no more than 10 tonnes of any of the following waste types: 

• animal tissue waste (02 02 02), 

• materials unsuitable for consumption or processing (02 05 01, 02 06 01), 

• biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste (20 01 08), 

• biodegradable waste from markets only (20 03 02). 

Digestate must have been treated under one of the following: 

• T24 exemption: anaerobic digestion on farms, 

• T25 exemption: anaerobic digestion not done on a farm, 

• a permit that only allows waste types listed in T24 and T25 exemptions. 

If digestate has been treated under a permit, the conditions of the permit must state that the waste is stored in the digester for at least 28 days, before going to the U10-registered site. 

You cannot use digestate from sites with a permit that allows other waste types. 

For the full guidance note, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

Managing Asbestos Contaminated Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating Containing POPs: RPS 359

This RPS was first issued on 29 January 2026. This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to: 

• have an environmental permit where one is required, 

• comply with the conditions of your environmental permit, 

• comply with the requirements under ‘Regulation (EU) 2019/1021’ on POPs. 

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with these legal requirements provided that: 

• your activity meets the description set out in this RPS, 

• you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS. 

In addition, your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not: 

• cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals, 

• cause a nuisance through noise or odours, 

• adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest. 

This RPS applies to disposing waste upholstered domestic seating (WUDS) containing POPs and asbestos, to landfill. 

This RPS applies when it is not possible to permanently destroy or irreversibly transform the POPs in the waste. This is required by ‘Article 7(2) and Part 1 of Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021’ on POPs. 

Conditions you must comply with:  

• confirm that asbestos is present on or within the WUDS, 

• confirm (as far as reasonably practicable) that the WUDS material contains POPs above Annex IV thresholds, 

• dual code the waste as 20 03 07 and 17 06 05* and describe as waste containing POPs and asbestos, 

• complete and return a problematic waste stream request form where the asbestos contaminated POPs waste may exceed the permitted waste acceptance criteria of the landfill – contact the Environment Agency to request this form, 

• keep records for three years from the date of the last use of the RPS to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request. 

You must notify the Environment Agency by emailing chemicalrestrictions@environment-agency.gov.uk before you use this RPS. You must include evidence of the following for Environment Agency approval: 

• the presence of asbestos and reasons why it is unfeasible to separate further from the POPs waste, 

• the POPs containing material above relevant Annex IV thresholds, 

• why it has not been practicably possible to treat the WUDS by a method described in ‘Part 1 of Annex V of assimilated Regulation 2019/1021’ on POPs (as amended). 

You must not use this RPS where the asbestos can be feasibly removed or separated from the WUDS containing POPs. 

Note:  

The Environment Agency may use the information you provide under this RPS to notify the Secretary of State of exceptional circumstances of a POPs waste disposal. 

The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 31 March 2027. 

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary.  

For the full guidance note, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

Consultations

England

Consultation on the Regulatory Framework for Sludge Applied to Agriculture

94.4% of sludge produced by English water and sewerage companies is reused on agricultural land as a source of vital plant nutrients and organic matter. The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, supported by the ‘Sewage Sludge’ code of practice, regulate the spreading of sludge on land. The regulations have not gone through any substantial revisions since they were implemented, despite improvements in our understanding of the chemical complexity and treatment of sludge. 

Environmental advocacy groups have called for the regulations to be reviewed to ensure they are fit for modern day sludge practices. Additionally, the Independent Water Commission (IWC) recommended the UK and Welsh governments should tighten regulatory oversight of sludge activity by moving the treatment, storage and use of sludge into Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.  

Proposed reform options:  

Reform option 1: Revoke the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, in whole or in part, and regulate sludge spreading within the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. This could improve the oversight of, and resource for, regulatory compliance, and reduce the complexity of current sludge management which is split across a patchwork of regulations. In addition, it would offer a flexible regime, under which permits could be updated as evidence on contaminant risk develops. Under this option, consideration would be needed of the cost burdens on industry, as well as whether this could be reduced through adopting an assurance scheme within the permits. 

Reform option 2: Amend the current Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989. This would provide an opportunity to update the provisions and ensure they are fit for the current context, whilst improved regulatory oversight could be delivered through the introduction of a charging scheme. Under this option, consideration would be needed of the cost burden on industry from charging and the potential to maintain the current regulatory complexity. 

Reform option 3: Changing standards on sludge spreading via non-regulatory means. This option may offer swift action to update requirements on spreading and address contaminants of concern, as and when evidence supports. However, without increased resource through a charging regime (as per options 1 and 2), this option lacks regulatory oversight or means of enforcement for non-compliance. Additionally, the underlying complexity of regulations would remain. 

Whilst this consultation is primarily focused on the opportunities to reform the current regulations, DEFRA acknowledge that the issue of contaminants in wastewater and sludge is a problem in the wider waste system and further research is needed to determine the best mitigation options. This may include technological innovation in treatment methods. DEFRA is undertaking further research in this space, and the water industry is trialling new treatment technologies for sludge. 

DEFRA would like your views to help shape reform of the regulatory framework for sewage sludge spreading.  

The consultation closes on the 24 March 2026. 

For the full consultation documents, click here.  

Environment Agency Charges Consultation: Radioactive Substances Regulation (Non-Nuclear Sites)

The EA is proposing to increase their charges for permitting and inspection of radioactive substances at non-nuclear sites in England. This is a statutory duty placed on the EA under Schedule 23 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. 

Radioactive substances are widely used by hospitals, universities and industry. For example, they use radioactive substances: 

• to diagnose and treat patients, 

• for research and teaching, 

• in manufacturing and engineering processes. 

There are around 1,200 permitted non-nuclear sites which keep and use radioactive materials and dispose of radioactive waste to the environment. 

The EA would like to understand your views on the impacts and benefits of our proposed charges for regulating radioactive substances at non-nuclear sites.  

The consultation closes on 17 February 2026. 

For the full consultation documents, click here.   

Northern Ireland

Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy

The draft ‘Rethinking Our Resources: Northern Ireland Resources and Waste Management Strategy’ aims to integrate policy reforms, modern technology, and partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability and adaptability. It focuses on controlled wastes from households, commercial and industrial premises, and category 3 animal by-products, contributing to recycling targets and ‘Net Zero’ commitments. The strategy provides both long-term plans and short-term actions to drive significant environmental change. 

The strategy outlines 10 targets and 63 actions to help Northern Ireland achieve its vision. These actions include new support programmes, statutory and best practice guidance, campaigns, data refinements, and cross-departmental collaboration. The strategy provides a long-term plan for significant environmental change, alongside clear, effective, and realistic short-term tactics and actions necessary to drive the required outcomes. 

This consultation offers everyone the opportunity to provide their views on the vision, targets, objectives and actions in the strategy.  The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) are inviting responses, from both individual members of the public and organisations. 

The consultation closes on 8 April 2026. 

For the full consultation documents, click here

Articles

UK DRS Rebrands as ‘Exchange for Change’ Ahead of 2027 Launch

Ahead of the October 2027 launch of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the scheme administrator has announced ‘Exchange for Change’ as its new trading name. 

Alongside the new trading name, ‘Exchange for Change’ also has a new brand icon that will appear on every bottle, can, and return point associated with the scheme. 

The icon shows bottles and cans turning into coins and is designed to reflect the full range of eligible containers within the scheme. The administrator plans to formally share the scheme logo and detailed guidance on how and when to apply it, including placement, sizing and approved formats and colours, with businesses “in the coming weeks”. 

The scheme remains on track to go live in October 2027.  

To read the full article, click here. 

Source: Circular  

‘It Sounds Apocalyptic’: Experts Warn of Impact of UK Floods on Birds, Butterflies and Dormice

Events such as Storm Chandra take a terrible toll on ecosystems, but nature can be part of the solution for mitigating flood waters. 

Rising temperatures mean extreme rainfall events have become more severe during storms in the UK, with research indicating they are 20% more intense. But many conservationists say that nature can also be part of the solution for mitigating flood water, particularly for slowing its movement through the landscape and avoiding fast-moving deluges that damage properties and threaten human life.  

The UK has lost more than 90% of its wetlands in the past 100 years, today covering just 3% of the country. In many places, river systems and wetlands have been altered to funnel water away from land as quickly as possible instead of allowing it to naturally burst out on to floodplains. Environmentalists say that restoring wetlands and the natural flow of rivers, along with continuing the reintroduction of ecosystem engineers such as beavers, will help. 

For the full article, click here. 

Source: The Guardian 

Enforcement Action

Kidlington: Further Arrest Made for Illegal Waste Dumping

Three offenders have been arrested as part of an investigation into the 20,000-tonne illegal waste dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. 

Following the first report of waste being tipped in Kidlington, the EA responded immediately with officers attending the site on 2 July 2025. A further site visit carried out in July showed no change to the site and no further waste deposits, therefore a cease-and-desist letter was issued to ensure further tipping was prevented.  

After officers became aware of continued criminal activity on site in October 2025, a court order was sought and granted to close the site. Since this was granted on 23 October 2025, no further tipping has taken place.  

In December, the EA announced that planning work to clear up the illegal site had begun. A waste removal contract has since been signed and Acumen Waste Services Ltd are now preparing ahead of the waste removal activities, which are planned for the end of February. 

To read the full article, click here. 

Source: GOV.UK 

Suspended Sentence for Waste Operator who ‘Blatantly Ignored’ Bankruptcy Restrictions

A waste operator has been handed a suspended sentence after illegally acting as company director while bankrupt. The offender was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. The offender was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £1,000, and was disqualified as a company director for five years. 

Investigations by the EA found that despite being declared bankrupt in 2021, the offender continued to act as a director of four companies while subject to bankruptcy restrictions.  

The chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, commented: “Bankruptcy restrictions exist to protect creditors and the wider business community from individuals who have demonstrated they cannot manage companies responsibly.” 

For the full article, click here. 

Source: Circular 

Cura Terrae Services

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) / ISO 14001 

To support you, Cura Terrae have an experienced consultancy team that can help your business to develop, implement and maintain your Environmental Management System/ISO 14001.  

Whether you are starting to prepare your system or it is already certified. We will work with you to ensure your system continues to demonstrate your commitment to continuous environmental improvement by protecting the environment and maintaining compliance with legislation.  

• ISO 14001 Gap Analysis  
• Environmental Review/Legal Compliance  
• Environmental Management System (EMS) Development and Implementation  
• Internal Auditing  
• Internal Auditing Training  

For further information, click here.  

Events

International Energy Week 2026

10-12th February 2026  [In-person and online] 

International Energy Week 2026 is the first major global energy event following COP30, where the world’s energy leaders gather to turn climate commitments into action. Backed by the Energy Institute and its 20,000-strong membership, International Energy Week offers a unique platform to tackle the most urgent challenges in energy: from grid resilience and supply chain risk, to financing the transition and scaling innovation. 

With its trusted heritage as the UK’s flagship energy event, International Energy Week is more than just a conference – it’s a convening force, a networking hub and a strategic tool in the Energy Institute’s mission to create a better energy future. 

Over three days of high-profile keynotes, panel discussions, and networking, and culminating in the prestigious International Energy Week dinner and awards ceremony, the week attracts more than 1,000 delegates from around the globe. 

It is the essential annual fixture for those leading on corporate strategy, business development, and technological innovation, those wanting to retain a competitive edge, and anyone seeking insight into the great energy challenges facing humanity and once-in-a-generation energy transition opportunities. 

To review the agenda and register, click here. 

Source: ieweek.co.uk  

World Wildlife Day 2026

3rd March 2026 

United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on 3 March to celebrate wild animals and plants and recognize the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.  

The WWD 2026 theme is ‘Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods’. 

WWD 2026 will serve as a platform to highlight the vital role of medicinal and aromatic plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods. It will showcase the diversity of these species, from aloes and frankincense to orchids, their contributions to traditional knowledge and primary healthcare, and the growing pressures they face from habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change. The observance will also explore the challenges encountered by indigenous peoples, rural communities, governments, and conservation partners, and the collaborative actions needed to ensure that these plants are conserved and used sustainably for future generations to continue benefitting from them. 

For more information and details of how to get involved, click here. 

Source: wildlifeday.org