Management and Compliance Bulletin - 13th April 2026

Legislation

Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026

These regulations amended the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 on 26 March 2026.

Changes include the following:

• The environmental authorisations regime now applies to fish farm discharges throughout the Scottish Marine Area.
• Permits for waste management facilities now need to include conditions requiring systems to identify and manage radioactive contamination in waste.
• The general binding rule for the storage and application of fertiliser under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 will remain valid until 1 January 2027.
• The general binding rules within the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) require that slurry is applied with precision equipment in further circumstances from 1 January 2027.

This legislation will apply in Scotland only.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace.

The Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

These regulations prohibit the taking of Periwinkles by any means from intertidal areas during the peak spawning season (between 1 January and 30 April, inclusive, each year) without a permit from the Department under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.

These regulations apply to Northern Ireland only.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: NetRegs.

Upcoming Legislation

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026

From 1 July 2026, this order will expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to include emissions from qualifying domestic maritime activities.

These requirements will apply to qualifying ships of 5000 GT or greater and will exclude voyages with a port of call outside of the UK.

Exemptions include fishing vessels, search-and-rescue vessels, vessels carrying out medical, military/police or border force activities. Offshore vessels are only exempt until 31 December 2026.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace.

Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (Scotland) Regulations 2026

These regulations will prohibit the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic for domestic use from 11 August 2027, in most cases. These restrictions mirror bans being applied elsewhere in the UK, albeit from different dates.

The ban will apply to retailers and other businesses supplying the general public.

The following exemptions will apply to the restrictions on wet wipes containing plastic:

• A registered retail, online or other distance selling pharmacy is exempt, provided all of the following conditions are met.
• The products are not advertised to customers in Scotland.
• The products are not displayed in areas visible to or accessible by customers.
• The products are only supplied upon customer request.
• A person supplying wet wipes containing plastic for medical purposes, where use is by or under the direction of a healthcare professional.
• A healthcare professional supplying wet wipes containing plastic for medical purposes.
• A person supplying wet wipes containing plastic to a business or local authority, where this is for the purpose of the business or local authority.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: Greenspace.

The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The regulations ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic (with some exemptions) from 18 May 2027.

Exemptions have been included for the sale of wet wipes containing plastic for use in business and medical settings, including to individuals for medical reasons.  They can be provided by registered pharmacies.

There is an 18-month transition period after the regulations were made (18 November 2025) to allow retailers enough time to use up existing stock and source a plastic free alternative.

For the full legislation, click here.

Source: NetRegs.

Guidance

Storing and Dismantling Small Boats and Barges: Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 364

This RPS applies to the storage and dismantling of small boats and barges. A small boat is generally defined as a usually open watercraft under 20 to 30 feet in length, powered by oars, paddles, sails, or small motors.

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 will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 1 December 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.

Low Risk Waste Positions (LWRPs): Transport, Vehicles, Vehicle Parts, and Metal

The Environment Agency has provided LRWPs for waste operations that it considers may be suitable for an exemption.

On 4 March 2026, the guidance was updated to withdraw LWRP 44 and link to the RPS 364: Storing and Dismantling Small Boats and Barges, which replaces it.

For the link to the guidance, click here.

Consultations

England, Scotland and Wales

Whole Energy Cyber Resilience Requirements: Reshaping Cyber Regulation in Downstream Gas and Electricity

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Ofgem are seeking views on proposals for a new approach to cyber resilience regulation for downstream gas and electricity operators in Great Britain. The consultation considers whether there is a need to change how cyber resilience requirements apply across the downstream gas and electricity sector. DESNZ and Ofgem propose introducing baseline cyber requirements for all Ofgem licensees, to ensure cyber is on everyone’s agenda and introduce a consistent cyber starting point for the energy system. It also explores the possible expansion of the scope of the Network and Information System Regulations 2018, through a review of thresholds and essential services for designation in the downstream gas and electricity sectors.

Feedback is welcomed from a range of stakeholders, including Ofgem licensees, developers and industry bodies, to think tanks and academia, to inform the development of the proposals.

This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 22 May 2026.

For the full consultation documents, click here.

Source: GOV.UK

Articles of Interest

Wales Strikes Deal to Speed Up Renewable Energy Schemes

Plans to speed up delivery of windfarms, solar parks and tidal power schemes have been set out as part of a new deal between the renewable energy industry and the Welsh government.

It follows warnings from the sector that Wales was “behind the rest of the UK” in getting new projects built.

Ministers have said the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East on oil and gas prices makes achieving energy independence more important. Wales generated enough renewable power to meet 54% of the country’s electricity use in 2024, according to the latest figures, with ministers wanting to reach 100% by 2035.

The Labour-run government in Cardiff Bay called its new sector deal a “strategic partnership” with the industry “accelerating renewable deployment across onshore and offshore, wind, solar, marine and hydro“. It said that developers and community organisations had been involved in the work, ensuring that local communities would “reap the benefits” from projects in their areas.

There are 78 commitments, from streamlining the planning process to training up workers able to build and operate new schemes.

Industry leaders welcomed the announcement with Renewable UK Cymru saying it would help unlock a “£10bn opportunity for Welsh businesses“, 8,000 jobs and £183m in community benefits.

For the full article, click here.

Source: BBC

Fewer Heat-Related Deaths in 2025 Despite Warmest Summer

The number of heat-related deaths recorded during summer 2025 (the UK’s warmest) was much lower than expected, officials have said.

Around 1,504 heat-associated deaths were reported in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), roughly half the 3,039 predicted.

The figures come despite last year being the warmest summer on record, with four heatwaves, a top temperature of nearly 36°C and a mean temperature of 16.1°C.

The UKHSA says it is possible that warmer conditions in late spring 2025 may have encouraged people to adopt earlier “protective” behaviours ahead of the peak heat.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said the lower-than-expected deaths “suggests that the actions taken across the health and care system may be helping to reduce harm”.

The Met Office outlook suggests that global average temperatures in 2026 are likely to be around 1.46°C above pre‑industrial levels (1850–1900), which would place it among the four warmest years on record.

For the full article, click here.

Source: BBC

Enforcement Action

Early Morning Raid Sees Man Arrested for Packaging Fraud and Money Laundering Offences

An individual in Birmingham has been arrested as part of an investigation into waste plastic packaging fraud and money laundering.

In a dawn operation that took place on 25 March 2026, officers from the Environment Agency worked with West Midlands Police to arrest a 49-year-old man for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

The arrest relates to a complex investigation which involves fraud within the Packaging Producer Responsibility (PPR) regime. This is a system that allows exporters and reprocessors, accredited by the Environment Agency, to sell credits for packaging waste they export or recycle. Producers of waste must then purchase these credits to help pay towards the cost of recycling their packaging.

This investigation focuses on the unlawful selling of more than £2 million in credits for exports that are suspected of never actually taking place. The male was also arrested in respect of laundering the proceeds of this crime.

Officers from the Environment Agency’s Investigation and Disruption Team are continuing their enquiries and evidence gathered during the arrest will be assessed.

For full details, click here.

Source: Gov.uk

Sausage Casing Firm Fined £48,000 for Polluting North Lanarkshire Burn with Industrial Effluent

A North Lanarkshire company has been fined £48,000 after untreated industrial effluent from its factory – which makes collagen casings used in sausage production – was discharged into a local burn, significantly harming the environment.

The company’s manufacturing process produces significant volumes of trade effluent (wastewater) from animal hide washing undertaken inside a number of large drums, which use mechanical action and chemicals to remove material from the animal skins. Under normal conditions, the factory’s trade effluent should be discharged to the public sewer under a trade effluent direction from Scottish Water, which includes strict limits on volume and chemical content.

The pollution to the burn resulted from an incident between 14 and 18 July 2021, when a blockage in the company’s foul sewer line caused a back-up of trade effluent. The factory operated a dual manhole drainage system, comprising a foul pipe and surface water pipe running alongside each other. This back-up within the foul pipe spilled over into the surface water pipe, with untreated effluent entering the surface water network and discharging directly to the burn.

The company pleaded guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court on 11 November 2025 to carrying out a controlled activity liable to cause pollution of the water environment without the required authorisation from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The case followed an investigation by the SEPA, with the matter reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Shona McConnell, SEPA’s Head of Environmental Performance Geographic, said:

“This was a serious and entirely avoidable pollution incident that caused significant harm to a local watercourse. Our investigation found that a blocked foul sewer led to a substantial volume of highly polluting trade effluent wrongly escaping via the site’s surface water system.

“We would encourage any operators using dual manhole systems, or who are uncertain, to review their drainage layout, to take urgent steps to understand the risks and to put controls in place. SEPA expect all businesses to take responsibility for protecting Scotland’s water environment and where they don’t, we will take action.”

For details, click here.

Source: SEPA

Cura Terrae Services

Environmental Permit Application and Support

Operating legally in the UK often requires businesses to obtain environmental permits and consents. Navigating these applications can be challenging. At Cura Terrae we provide comprehensive support throughout the entire permitting process, from identifying the necessary permits to liaising with the EA or other regulatory bodies on your behalf, streamlining the process.

Our Environmental Permit Applications and Support services help businesses secure the necessary environmental permits and consents required by law. We offer expert guidance in identifying, preparing, and submitting applications for environmental permits, as well as support in permit variations, surrendering permits, and developing essential management plans. With our service, you can focus on your core business activities while we handle the finer details of environmental compliance.

• Environmental Permit Applications
• Medium Combustion Plant Permits
• Permit Variations
• Surrendering Permits
• Regulation 61 BAT Assessments
• Permit Training
• Permit Application Gap Analysis
• Flood Risk Activity Permit Applications
• Trade Effluent Discharge Consent Applications and Variations
• H1 Risk Assessments
• Dust Management Plans
• Fire Prevention Plans
• Odour Management Plans

For further information, click here.

Events

Stop Food Waste Day

29 April 2026

Stop Food Waste Day is the largest single day of action in the fight against global food waste.

Started in 2017 by Compass Group USA, Stop Food Waste Day is now recognised globally in every corner of the world as we unite to educate, inspire, and ignite change. Their mission is to ignite change regarding the global food waste problem. They do this by drawing attention to the issues, at the same time educating through engaging with society at all levels and sharing practical, creative, and impactful ways we can all change our behaviour to reduce food waste.

Since starting out, millions of people have taken the pledge to end food waste, shared tips and hints about how to reduce waste at home and been involved in the global conversation around how we can all do more to reduce our impact.

33% of all food produced globally is lost or wasted every single year. And just a quarter of the food wasted globally could be used to feed the 795 million undernourished people in the world.

For more details, and ideas for reducing food waste, click here.

Source: Stopfoodwasteday.com

No Mow May

May 2026

No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign urging everyone to pack away the lawnmower, let wildflowers grow freely and help nature from your doorstep.

From May onwards, simply stop mowing your lawn (or even just a small part of it) and do more by doing less.

No lawn is too small! Even the tiniest wild patch can provide vital food needed by bees and butterflies and give wildlife the best start to summer.

Plus, less mowing will save you effort, cost, reduce your carbon footprint and give you a deeper connection to nature.

Approximately 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s, and with them, vital food and habitat needed by wildlife. A healthy lawn with some longer grass and wildflowers helps to tackle pollution, benefits wildlife and can even lock away carbon below the ground.

For more details, click here.

Source: Plantlife