| Guvnor

Enforced by: Environment Agency, SEPA
Status: Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling: Imprisonment 14 of 40 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 10 carry different penalties and 16 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person19 Occupier4 Licence Holder1 Operator1 Director or Officer1

Plus 14 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 184 duties

Merchant Shipping Act 1995 144 duties

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 104 duties

Communications Act 2003 92 duties

Road Traffic Act 1988 92 duties

Occupier — also bound by 235 other Acts

The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 47 duties

Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 46 duties

The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 34 duties

Highways Act 1980 23 duties

Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 19 duties

Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts

Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 318 duties

The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 123 duties

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 83 duties

Space Industry Regulations 2021 68 duties

The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 65 duties

Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 203 duties

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 121 duties

Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 112 duties

Space Industry Regulations 2021 76 duties

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 66 duties

Director or Officer — also bound by 429 other Acts

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 162 duties

Companies Act 2006 126 duties

Insolvency Act 1986 77 duties

The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 68 duties

Building Societies Act 1986 32 duties

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Waste on land

18 of 30 sections shown

s.003 Prohibition of unlicensed disposal of waste. Imprisonment

Unlicensed disposal or treatment of wasteAny Person

s.004 Provisions supplementary to s. 3. Imprisonment

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must consider exemptions for minor or controlled waste risksCrown / Minister / Government department

s.005 Licences to dispose of waste. Imprisonment

Provide false information in a waste disposal licence applicationAny Person

s.006 Provisions supplementary to s. 5. Prosecution

Breach waste disposal licence conditionsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.007 Variation of conditions and revocation of licences. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Environment Agency or SEPA must modify or revoke waste licencesStatutory regulator

s.009 Supervision of licensed activities. Prosecution

Comply with waste disposal licence conditions and emergency worksLicence Holder

Unlimited fine

s.010 Appeals to Secretary of State from decisions with respect to licences. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Appeal waste disposal licensing decisions to the Secretary of StateCrown / Minister / Government department

s.012 Collection of waste. Regulated

Pay for the collection of commercial or industrial wasteAny Person

s.013 Dustbins etc. Prosecution

Fail to comply with waste storage noticeOccupier

Fine up to £1,000

s.014 Disposal of waste in England and Wales. Regulated

Pay reasonable charges for use of waste disposal facilitiesAny Person

s.016 Removal of waste deposited in breach of licensing provisions. Prosecution

Fail to comply with waste removal noticeOccupier

Unlimited fine

s.017 Special provisions with respect to certain dangerous or intractable waste. Imprisonment

Breach regulations regarding dangerous or industrial 'special waste'Occupier

s.018 Application of preceding provisions to other waste. Imprisonment

Deposit non‑controlled waste without consentAny Person

s.021 Production of heat and electricity from waste etc. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must report waste-to-energy installation details annuallyLocal authority

s.023 Prohibition of parking to facilitate street cleaning. Prosecution

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities may prohibit parking to allow for street cleaningLocal authority

Unlimited fine

s.024 Litter. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Councils must coordinate and publish local litter reduction plansLocal authority

s.027 Interference with refuse tips and dustbins etc. Prosecution

Unauthorised interference with waste bins or disposal sitesAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.028 Supplementary provisions relating to pipes. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must maintain and display maps of sewage pipesLocal authority

12 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.008 Transfer and relinquishment of licences.

s.011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.019 Powers of disposal authorities as respects other waste.

s.020 Reclamation of waste.

s.022 Street cleaning etc.

s.025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.026 Outfall pipes for sewage disposal works.

s.029 Modification of Parts I and II to avoid duplication of control.

s.030 Interpretation etc. of Part I.

Part 1

Abandoned Mines

1 of 2 sections shown

s.030 Mine operators to give SEPA six months’ notice of any proposed abandonment. Prosecution

Notify SEPA six months before abandoning a mineOperator

Unlimited fine

1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.030 Introductory.

Part 2

Pollution of water

1 of 49 sections shown

s.030 Waters to which Part II applies. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

SEPA must make water boundary maps available for public inspectionStatutory regulator

48 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.030 Classification of quality waters.

s.030 Water quality objectives.

s.030 General duties to achieve and maintain objectives etc.

s.030 Consultation and collaboration.

s.030 Pollution offences.

s.030 Prohibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations.

s.030 Discharges into and from sewers etc.

s.030 Defence to principal offences in respect of authorised discharges.

s.030 Other defences to principal offences.

s.031 Control of pollution of rivers and coastal waters etc.

s.031 Requirements to take precautions against pollution.

s.031 Nitrate sensitive areas.

s.031 Registering of agreement.

s.031 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.032 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.033 Control of sanitary appliances on vessels.

s.034 Consents for discharges of trade and sewage effluent etc.

s.035 Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications for consent.

s.036 Provisions supplementary to ss. 34 and 35.

s.037 Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions.

s.038 Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and of previous variation.

s.038 General review of consents.

s.039 Appeals to the Secretary of State.

s.040 Transitional provisions relating to consent.

s.041 Registers.

s.042 Exclusion from registers of information affecting national security.

s.042 Exclusion from registers of certain confidential information.

s.043 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.044 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.045 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.046 Operations by river purification authorities to remedy or forestall pollution of water.

s.046 Notices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution operations.

s.046 Grant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc.

s.046 Appeals against works notices.

s.046 Consequences of not complying with a works notice.

s.047 Duty of water authorities to deal with waste from vessels etc.

s.048 Power of water authorities to exclude unregistered vessels from rivers etc.

s.049 Deposits and vegetation in rivers etc.

s.049 Enforcement notices as respects discharge consents.

s.049 Appeals against enforcement notices.

s.050 Investigation of water pollution problems arising from closure of mines.

s.051 Codes of good agricultural practice.

s.052 Charges in respect of certain discharges in England and Wales.

s.053 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.054 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.055 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.055 Regulations under this Part.

s.056 Interpretation etc. of Part II.

Part 3

Noise

5 of 21 sections shown

s.060 Control of noise on construction sites. Prosecution

Breach of noise control notice on a construction siteAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.061 Prior consent for work on construction sites. Prosecution

Apply for prior consent for construction site noiseAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.062 Noise in streets. Prosecution

Restrict the use of loudspeakers in public streetsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.068 Noise from plant or machinery. Regulated

Comply with local noise control regulations for plant and machineryAny Person

s.074 Penalties. Prosecution

Violate noise control requirements or environmental protection ordersAny Person

Unlimited fine

16 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.057 Periodical inspections by local authorities.

s.058 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.059 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.063 Designation of zones.

s.064 Register of noise levels.

s.065 Noise exceeding registered level.

s.066 Reduction of noise levels.

s.067 New buildings etc.

s.069 Execution of works by local authority.

s.070 Appeals to Secretary of State and magistrates’ court.

s.071 Codes of practice for minimising noise.

s.072 “Best practicable means”.

s.073 Interpretation and other supplementary provisions.

Part 4

9 of 10 sections shown

s.075 Regulations about motor fuel. Imprisonment

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must enforce motor fuel composition and labelling rulesLocal authority

s.076 Regulations about sulphur content of oil fuel for furnaces or engines. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must consult before setting fuel sulphur limitsCrown / Minister / Government department

s.077 Provisions supplementary to ss. 75 and 76. Prosecution

Fail to comply with fuel regulations (sections 75‑76)Any Person

Unlimited fine

s.078 Cable burning. Prosecution

Burn insulation from cables to recover metalAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.079 Research and publicity. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must consult businesses on air pollution monitoringLocal authority

s.080 Notices requiring information about air pollution. Prosecution

Fail to provide air pollution information or provide false dataOccupier

Unlimited fine

s.081 Appeals against notices. Regulated

Appeal an air pollution information noticeAny Person

s.082 Regulations about research and publicity. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Local authorities must maintain a public register of air pollution informationLocal authority

s.083 Provision by local authorities of information for Secretary of State. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State may direct local authorities to monitor air pollutionCrown / Minister / Government department

1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.084 Interpretation of Part IV.

Part 5

Supplementary provisions

4 of 14 sections shown

s.087 Miscellaneous provisions relating to legal proceedings. Prosecution

Directors and managers are personally liable for company pollution offencesDirector or Officer

Unlimited fine

s.092 Provisions supplementary to s. 91. Prosecution

Obstructing an environmental inspectorAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.093 Power of authorities to obtain information. Imprisonment

Fail to provide information to environmental authoritiesAny Person

s.094 Prohibition of disclosure of information. Prosecution

Unlawful disclosure of trade secretsAny Person

Unlimited fine

10 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.085 Appeals to Crown Court or Court of Session against decisions of magistrates’ court or sheriff.

s.086 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.088 Civil liability for contravention of s. 3(3).

s.089 Expenses and receipts of Secretary of State etc.

s.090 Establishment charges and interest in respect of certain expenses of authorities.

s.091 Rights of entry and inspection etc.

s.095 Service of documents on and by certain undertakers.

s.096 Local inquiries.

s.097 Default powers.

s.098 Interpretation of Part V.

Part 6

Miscellaneous and general

6 of 11 sections shown

s.101 Disposal of waste etc by Atomic Energy Authority.

amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

s.103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

s.104 Orders and regulations. Regulated

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Secretary of State must consult and consider objections for water regulationsCrown / Minister / Government department

amended 6 times (opens in a new tab)

s.105 Interpretation etc—general.

amended 8 times (opens in a new tab)

s.106 General application to Scotland.

amended 4 times (opens in a new tab)

s.109 Short title, commencement and extent.

amended 1 time (opens in a new tab)

5 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional

s.099 Alteration of penalties.

s.100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

s.102 Power to give effect to international agreements.

s.107 Application to Isles of Scilly.

s.108 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments, and repeals.

Schedules

1 of 54 shown

s.002 Alteration of penalties Regulated

Construct drain or sewer incorrectlyAny Person

53 other schedules

s.003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch001 Noise Abatement Zones

s.sch001a Orders Designating Nitrate Sensitive Areas: Scotland

s.sch001a (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, the Secretary of State...

s.sch001a (1) SEPA shall not, for the purposes of paragraph 1...

s.sch001a (1) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State proposes...

s.sch001a The Secretary of State shall, at the request of any...

s.sch001a (1) Where notices with respect to any proposed order have...

s.sch001a Without prejudice to section 96 of this Act, where notices...

s.sch001a The consent of the Treasury shall be required for the...

s.sch001a In this Part, “local authority” means a council constituted under...

s.sch002 In section 41(3) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 94(2) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 95(1) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 2 of the Public Health (Drainage of Trade...

s.sch002 In section 9 of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 19(3) of the Water Act 1945 (under which...

s.sch002 In section 21 of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 12(8) of the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 (under...

s.sch002 In section 14(6) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 24(2) of that Act (under which an occupier...

s.sch002 In section 45(2) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 46 of that Act (which provides that certain...

s.sch002 In section 19(3) of the Public Health Act 1936 (under...

s.sch002 In section 27 of that Act (which provides that certain...

s.sch002 In section 34(5) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch002 In section 36(1) of that Act (under which a person...

s.sch003 In section 10(1) of that Act (which authorises the taking...

s.sch003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch003 In section 18 of that Act (which relates to the...

s.sch003 In section 19 of that Act (which empowers river purification...

s.sch003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch003 In section 10(1) of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act...

s.sch003 At the end of section 34(5) of the Public Health...

s.sch003 In section 41(1)(b) of the London Government Act 1963 (which...

s.sch003 In section 77(2) of the Water Resources Act 1963 (which...

s.sch003 In section 113(1) of that Act (which authorises water authorities...

s.sch003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch003 In section 9(2) of the Spray Irrigation (Scotland) Act 1964...

s.sch003 In section 10(1) of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland)...

s.sch003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch003 In section 1(1)(g) of the Hovercraft Act 1968 for the...

s.sch003 For the purposes of section 14 of the Water Act...

s.sch003 In subsection (12) of section 24 of that Act (which...

s.sch003 In section 36(3) of that Act (which among other things...

s.sch003 In paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 7 to that Act (which...

s.sch003 Minor and consequential amendments of enactments

s.sch003 In section 3(1)(b) of the Public Health Act 1936 (under...

s.sch003 Sections 79 and 80 of that Act (which relate to...

s.sch003 Sections 2(4) and 3(2) of the Public Health (Drainage of...

s.sch003 In section 4(5) of that Act (under which disputes arising...

s.sch004 Repeals

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Meet environmental compliance requirements

Navigate your environmental obligations including waste duty of care, pollution prevention, packaging responsibilities, and energy reporting

Run a construction business

Ongoing compliance, site safety, and operational requirements for established construction businesses

Grow your construction business

Scale your construction business - win public contracts, build your workforce, achieve accreditations, and manage subcontractors at scale

Piling and earthworks compliance

Regulatory requirements for piling operations and earthworks on construction sites. Covers vibration monitoring under BS 5228 and BS 7385-2, noise control under …

1 more guide that reference this instrument

Environmental compliance for construction sites

Connected legislation

Instruments made under this Act. They carry the detail the Act delegates.

The Trade Effluent (Asbestos) (Scotland) Regulations 1993 SI 1993

The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection (Renewal) Order 1988 SI 1988

The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection (Renewal) Order 1991 SI 1991

The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection (Renewal) Order 1993 SI 1993

The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection (Renewal) Order 1993 Variation Order 1996 SI 1996

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.

Control of Pollution Act 1974

Does it bind you?

Other Acts binding the same actors

What it requires

Waste on land

Abandoned Mines

Pollution of water

Noise

Supplementary provisions

Miscellaneous and general

Schedules

Help complying

Meet environmental compliance requirements

Run a construction business

Grow your construction business

Piling and earthworks compliance

Connected legislation