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11th May 2026

Management and Compliance Bulletin - 11th May 2026

Megan Rushton
Read time 15 minutes

Your monthly update on legislation, guidance, interesting news articles, and webinars from the environmental sector.

Upcoming Legislation

Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026

These regulations came partially into force on 26 March 2026 and the scheme is due to operate from 1 October 2027.

A deposit will be charged when a drink in a qualifying bottle or can is supplied. This deposit will be refunded on return of the container.

Unlike elsewhere in the United Kingdom (UK), the Welsh scheme will also cover glass bottles, but no deposit will be charged on these containers until 30 September 2031.

This legislation will apply in Wales only.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace

Digital Waste Tracking (Wales) Regulations 2026

These regulations will implement the first phase of the mandatory digital waste tracking system in Wales from 1 October 2026. In this phase, facilities in Wales that are permitted to receive waste will need to register with the digital waste tracking system and enter specified information on waste received into the system.

The forthcoming second phase, expected in 2027, will apply to producers, carriers and brokers of waste.

These regulations apply to Wales only.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

This draft legislation will amend the assimilated, Great British version of the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

The amendments will further delay deadlines for transitional registrations of chemicals under UK REACH, where these were previously registered under EU REACH. The first transitional registration deadline will be 27 October 2029, rather than 27 October 2026.

These regulations apply to England, Scotland, and Wales only. Northern Ireland will remain under the EU REACH regime.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace

Guidance

ISO14001:2026 Updates

ISO14001 (ISO 14001:2026) has now been officially published, with a go-live date of 15 April 2026.

This marks the introduction of the revised standard, which brings updated requirements and greater emphasis on areas such as sustainability, climate-related considerations, lifecycle perspective, and strengthened environmental performance expectations.

Key transition information:

  • Publication / go-live date: 15 April 2026
  • Transition period: Approximately 3 years
  • Deadline to transition: Expected by April–May 2029.

During this transition period, organisations may continue to operate under ISO 14001:2015, however, certification bodies will require full alignment with the 2026 version by the end of the transition window.

How we can support you

To help you prepare effectively, we can carry out a gap analysis to assess your current Environmental Management System (EMS) against the new requirements. This will:

  • Identify areas of alignment and non-conformance,
  • Highlight any required updates or improvements,
  • Provide a clear roadmap to achieve full compliance ahead of your certification transition.

If you would like to arrange a gap analysis or discuss how these changes may impact your organisation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) held a webinar highlighting the key changes to the standard.

To view a recording of the webinar, click here.

Environmental Permits for ‘Orphan’ Waste Effluent Treatment Plants: Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 33

This RPS applies to ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plants.

Examples of ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plant covered by this RPS include:

  • leachate treatment plant at historic landfills which no longer have, or never had, an environmental permit,
  • small manufacturing sites that do not exceed the threshold for a Part A(1) installation under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

This RPS does not apply where the activity is carried on as part of another activity which requires a permit.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required, and to comply with the conditions of your environmental permit. However, the Environment Agency (EA) will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 31 December 2027. You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

For the details of the RPS, click here.

Storing and De-Packaging Recalled Products Containing Asbestos: RPS 367

This RPS applies to storing and de-packaging recalled goods that may contain small or trace amounts of asbestos. This RPS applies to the recalled goods listed on Gov.uk at ‘Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls’.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required, and to comply with the conditions of your environmental permit. However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 31 January 2027. You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

For the details of the RPS, click here.

Small-Scale Abstractions for Construction Dewatering: RPS 368

This RPS applies to small-scale single abstraction or a series of abstractions of groundwater under 270 days duration to dewater a construction site because of a high water-table. This small-scale abstraction (or abstractions) allows construction or maintenance of building or engineering works by pumping groundwater directly from the site.

This RPS does not apply if abstracted water is used for any other on-site purposes such as dust suppression or wheel washing. In this case, you must obtain an abstraction licence before beginning abstraction.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required, and to comply with the conditions of your environmental permit. However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 31 December 2027. You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

For the details of the RPS, click here.

Temporary Dewatering From Excavations to Surface Water: RPS 261

This RPS applies to short-term, intermittent, or temporary discharges of uncontaminated water (wholly or mainly rainwater) from an excavation to surface water.

Surface water includes:

  • rivers,
  • streams,
  • estuaries,
  • lakes,
  • canals,
  • coastal waters.

This RPS does not apply to discharges to ground or groundwater.

This RPS does not apply where the activity is continued on as part of another activity which requires a permit.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required, and to comply with the conditions of your environmental permit. However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 30 April 2028. You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

For the details of the RPS, click here.

Emergency Services and Armed Forces Use of End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) and Other Wastes: RPS 167

This RPS applies to:

  • emergency services,
  • armed forces,
  • training providers working on behalf of the emergency services or armed forces.

When using ELVs and other waste for:

  • training exercises,
  • teaching,
  • public awareness displays.

The uses include the following:

  • Cutting or burning ELVs (or both)
  • Locating and disarming hidden explosives in ELVs
  • Discharging firearms into ELVs
  • Live fire scenarios in buildings planned for demolition
  • Creating crime investigation scenes
  • Creating fire investigation scenes
  • Controlled explosions of ELVs.

This RPS does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required, and to comply with the conditions of your environmental permit. However, the EA will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The EA intends to review this RPS by 1 March 2029. You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

For the details of the RPS, click here.

Updates to Standard Rules (SR) Permits

The requirement to provide quarterly reports for non-waste material has been removed from the following SR permits:

  • SR2022 No 1: treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregate
  • SR2022 No 2: mobile treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregate
  • SR2022 No 3: construction, demolition and excavation waste transfer station
  • SR2022 No 4: non-hazardous waste recycling with asbestos, hazardous batteries, cable and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) storage
  • SR2022 No 5: non-hazardous waste transfer with asbestos, hazardous batteries, cable and WEEE storage
  • SR2022 No 6: household waste recycling centre
  • SR2022 No 7: materials recycling facility
  • SR2022 No 8: waste wood treatment.

For the details of the changes, check the Gov.uk website.

Consultations

England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Marketing Fertilising Products in the UK: Regulatory Reform

All four governments would like to know what you think about proposals to repeal existing fertiliser product legislation and replace it with a new regulatory framework – the UK Fertilising Product Regulations (UK FPR) – for placing products on the market in the UK.

All four governments are seeking views on:

  • basing UK FPR on conformity assessment,
  • technical requirements for fertilising products marketed under UK FPR,
  • proposals to establish the detailed parameters which would apply to products and the more technical aspects of UK FPR (which will be informed through a series of technical workshops with stakeholders),
  • proposals for enforcement of UK FPR, including civil sanctions for non-compliance,
  • transitional arrangements.

In addition, all four governments are asking for views and evidence on newer and novel fertilising products to inform future development of UK fertiliser legislation.

This consultation has been extended to 10 June 2026.

For the full consultation documents, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Articles

Game-Changing Digital Tracking Takes Fight to Rogue Waste Traders

Waste criminals are running out of places to hide as the government launches its ‘Digital Waste Tracking’ service to follow every piece of permitted waste across the country in real time.

As part of its major crackdown on waste crime under the government’s ‘Waste Crime Action Plan’, new laws being laid in parliament will require businesses to create a real-time audit trail for the waste they handle.

The service will become mandatory for permitted waste receiving sites in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from October 2026 and Scotland in January 2027, giving businesses time to prepare for the new requirements. Phase 1 will apply to around 12,000 permitted waste receiving sites. As the service expands, over 100,000 operators are set to be in scope.

Permitted waste receiving sites and software developers are being encouraged to take part in the beta phase, which is designed to test functionality and gather feedback ahead of the wider rollout. You can register to use the service in public beta here.

For the full article, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Government Approves UK’s Largest Power-Producing Solar Farm

The 800 MW Springwell Solar Farm was given approval on 8 April 2026, making it the largest solar project in the UK terms of power generation.

The Springwell Solar Farm is set to be the largest power-producing solar farm in the UK. According to the developer, it could power over 180,000 homes a year, the equivalent of half the homes in Lincolnshire.

The list of clean energy projects approved by the government so far includes the following:

  • Sunnica Energy Farm
  • Mallard Pass Solar Project
  • Gate Burton Energy Park
  • Cottam Solar Project
  • Rivenhall IWMF and Energy Centre
  • Heckington Fen Solar Park
  • West Burton Solar Project
  • North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park
  • Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm
  • East Yorkshire Solar Farm
  • Oaklands Farm Solar Park
  • Mona Offshore Wind Farm
  • Byers Gill Solar
  • Morgan Offshore Wind Project
  • Tillbridge Solar Project
  • Stonestreet Green Solar
  • Morecambe Offshore Windfarm
  • Helios Renewable Energy Project
  • Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm
  • Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind
  • Fenwick Solar Farm
  • Cory Decarbonisation
  • Bramford to Twinstead power line
  • Viking CCS
  • Springwell Solar Farm

For the full article, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Updated Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy is Published

Coinciding with a time of heightened global energy uncertainty, the updated Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy (GHGMH) was launched on 2 April 2026, providing organisations with a clear, practical framework for reducing carbon emissions – including transitioning away from fossil fuels.

First introduced in 2009 and adopted by both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) as global best-practice for tackling the emissions that cause climate change, the GHGMH was developed by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) as an open-source resource and has been used by multitudes of businesses, researchers and students all around the world.

The recent instability in the Middle East is contributing to renewed volatility in global oil and gas markets, driving up costs for businesses and households alike.

For the full article, click here.

Source: ISEP

Enforcement Action

Waste Site Clearance Underway After Court Action

An individual was ordered to clear a site in Bradford by 17 June after pleading guilty to waste offences on Friday 17 April at West Yorkshire Magistrates’ Court.

Work had already started on the clearance ahead of the hearing.

The court heard the individual was charged with operating a waste site without an environmental permit and failing to comply with a notice from the Environment Agency to clear the waste.

As well as being given two months to clear the waste, the individual was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £6,067.50 in costs.

Remember to complete your duty of care checks as a waste producer to ensure your waste is being disposed of correctly at an appropriately permitted site.

For details, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Waste Carrier Fined After Depositing Tonnes at Illegal Site

A Devon waste carrier has been ordered to pay £17,527 after he deposited waste at a site near Kingsteignton in Devon, which was operating illegally.

Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court heard that the individual deposited 1,368 tonnes of soil and stone at the illegal site between 19 July 2018 and 16 May 2019, whilst operating as a registered waste carrier.

Following the hearing, the waste carrier was fined £1,466 and ordered to pay back the economic benefit he realised from his illegal activity of £12,300, after pleading guilty to the illegal deposit of controlled waste and failing to comply with his duty of care as a waste carrier.

Remember to complete your duty of care checks as a waste producer to ensure your waste is being disposed of correctly at an appropriately permitted site.

For details, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Cura Terrae Services

Management and Compliance Services

Cura Terrae offers the expertise and guidance needed to navigate the ever-evolving regulations and growing expectations for environmental responsibility. We can support you in navigating these challenges effectively.

From initial assessments to ongoing compliance monitoring, our multidisciplinary team delivers practical, actionable advice tailored to your unique requirements. Whether addressing specific operational environmental requirements, ensuring adherence to environmental laws, or supporting strategic sustainability goals, we provide the tools and insights to help your organisation operate responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably.

Our holistic approach integrates compliance and environmental stewardship into your operations, empowering you to reduce risks, improve operational performance, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainable practices.

Our services and support will allow you to focus on your core business activities while we handle the finer details of environmental compliance.

For further information, get in touch with Lisa Ruddle or click here.

Events

Reforming the Carriers, Brokers and Dealers Regime: Establishing the Controller and Transporter Framework

19 May 2026

An Environmental Services Association (ESA) webinar focused on forthcoming reforms of the carriers, brokers dealers regime (‘controllers’ and ‘transporters’), and the resulting implications for compliance frameworks across the waste and resources sector.

The webinar will examine the regulatory drivers behind the reforms and provide a detailed breakdown of how obligations are expected to change for organisations operating as ‘controllers’ and ‘transporters’ under the new regime. It will also focus on how to achieve the new competence requirements under the new regime.

For more details, click here.

Source: ESA

Waste, Tracked: The UK’s Digital Revolution

27 May 2026

The ESA invites you to this webinar exploring the implementation of ‘Digital Waste Tracking’ across the UK.

This webinar brings together leading voices from government, regulators and industry to share practical insights, policy updates, and real-world perspectives.

Why Attend?

  • Understand the latest policy developments and regulatory expectations.
  • Learn how Digital Waste Tracking will impact your organisation.
  • Gain insights into implementation challenges and solutions.
  • Hear directly from key decision-makers and industry leaders.

For more details, click here.

Source: ESA

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