Starting a waste business
- 8 steps
UK Statutory Instrument
2016
England and Wales
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
At a glance
Enforced by
Environment Agency, OEP, DEFRA, Mining Remediation Authority, Natural England, NRW
What's here
89 compliance obligations, 78 practical guides across 4 topics · 34 journeys
Penalty landscape
8 of 89 obligations carry imprisonment (5 years). 81 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Operator 16
- Any Person 11
- Occupier 4
- Director or Officer 2
- Applicant 1
Plus 55 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Meet environmental compliance requirements
- 5 steps
Do I need an environmental permit?
- 4 steps
Your waste was fly-tipped - what now?
- 2 steps
Waste compliance quick check
- 2 steps
Environmental compliance for new businesses
- 6 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
21 guidesApply for a flood risk activity permit
Apply for an environmental permit
Business licences by activity type
Check if you need an environmental permit
Control and monitor air emissions
Drainage and utilities compliance checklist
Environmental Permit - Medium Combustion Plant
Environmental Permit - Part A(1) Installation
Supporting — topic alignment
40 guidesChemical manufacturer: compliance checklist
Coal mining compliance checklist
Comply with Farming Rules for Water
Comply with farming environmental regulations
Environmental permits and effluent controls for textile finishing and leather tanning
Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties for petroleum extraction
Mentioned in related content
17 guides- Approvals and registrations you need before trading
- Brewery licensing and compliance
- Crown Estate Seabed Lease
- Dispose of hazardous waste
- Doing business in Wales: key differences from England
- Find licences you need for your business
- Food and drink regulations and traceability
- Get an electricity generation licence
- Get authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (EASR)
- Manage food waste in Wales: mandatory separation rules for food businesses
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 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) 2018 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) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 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) 2016 66 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Applicants also bound by 294 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 46 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 30 duties
- The Land Registration Rules 2003 2003 25 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 18 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 14 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — General
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, commencement, extent and application
Interpretation: general
Interpretation: Directives
Exempt facilities and the application of section 33(1)(a) of the 1990 Act
Interpretation: exempt facilities
Interpretation: local authority
Interpretation: operate a regulated facility and operator
Interpretation: regulated facility and class of regulated facility
Interpretation: relevant function
Giving notices, notifications and directions, and the submission of forms
Part 2 — Environmental permits
Revocation of an environmental permit: general
5 years imprisonmentOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must provide 20 days' notice before revoking a permit Statutory regulator
Notification of the surrender of an environmental permit
5 years imprisonment- Notify the regulator to surrender your environmental permit Operator
Variation of an environmental permit: revocation of standard rules
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must update environmental permits if standard rules are cancelled Statutory regulator
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application to the Crown
Requirement for an environmental permit
Grant of an environmental permit
Content and form of an environmental permit
Conditions in relation to certain land
Mobile plant operating on the site of another regulated facility: conflict of permit conditions
Single site permits etc.
Consolidation of an environmental permit
Subsistence of an environmental permit
Variation of an environmental permit
Transfer of an environmental permit
Revocation of an environmental permit: steps to be taken after the revocation takes effect
Application for the surrender of an environmental permit
Preparation and revision of standard rules
Standard rules as conditions of an environmental permit
Notification of revisions of standard rules
Revocation of standard rules
Appeals to an appropriate authority
Part 3 — Discharge of functions in relation to a regulated facility
Discharge of functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency and NRW must exercise permit and enforcement functions Statutory regulator
Direction to a regulator: discharge of functions by a different regulator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government may swap regulatory responsibility between agencies and councils Crown / Minister / Government department
Review of environmental permits and inspection of regulated facilities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must review permits and inspect facilities periodically Statutory regulator
Specific provisions applying to environmental permits
- Comply with sector-specific permit requirements Any Person
Part 4 — Enforcement and offences
Offences
5 years imprisonment- Contravene regulation 12(1) or cause it Any Person
- Contravene regulation 12(1) or cause/permit contravention Any Person
Penalties and enforcement undertakings
5 years imprisonment- Breach of environmental permitting regulation Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate
5 years imprisonment- Cause corporate environmental offence by consent, connivance or neglect Director or Officer
- Officer liable for corporate environmental offence Director or Officer
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Enforcement notices
Suspension notices
Defences
Enforcement by the High Court
Admissibility of evidence
Power of court to order cause of offence to be remedied
Part 5 — Public registers
Duty of the regulator to maintain a public register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must maintain and provide access to a public register Statutory regulator
Exclusion from public registers of information affecting national security
- Exclude information affecting national security from public registers Any Person
Exclusion from public registers of confidential information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must protect confidential business information from public registers Statutory regulator
Procedure if the regulator considers that information may be confidential
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify you if they believe information is confidential Statutory regulator
Duty to determine confidentiality
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must decide if your business information stays confidential Statutory regulator
Determination of confidentiality
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must decide if environmental information is confidential Statutory regulator
Procedure following a determination
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify you of confidentiality decisions within 20 working days Statutory regulator
Appeals in relation to confidentiality
- Appeal a decision to make your business information public Any Person
Consequences of an appeal
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must update the public register following a confidentiality appeal Statutory regulator
Reconsideration of confidentiality
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must review and may end information confidentiality every 4 years Statutory regulator
Directions of the appropriate authority in relation to confidentiality
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government may disclose your confidential info if in the public interest Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6 — Powers and functions of the regulator and the appropriate authority
Power of the regulator to prevent or remedy pollution
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators may intervene to prevent or fix pollution at your expense Statutory regulator
Appropriate agency: notices in relation to emissions to water
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must update permits based on Agency water emission notices Local authority
Appropriate agency: public participation statement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appropriate agency must publish and follow a public participation statement Statutory regulator
Directions to regulators, exemption registration authorities and exemption authorities: general
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators and exemption authorities must follow government directions Statutory regulator
Guidance to regulators, exemption registration authorities and exemption authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must follow government guidance on environmental permitting Statutory regulator
Fees and charges in relation to the exercise of regulator's functions by local authorities
- Pay required fees and charges for environmental permits Operator
Consultation in relation to works affecting flood and coastal erosion risks
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must consult each other on cross-border flood risk activities Statutory regulator
Functions with respect to flood risk activities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must consider fishery interests in flood risk decisions Statutory regulator
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power of the regulator to prevent or remedy effects of flood risk activities
Power to require the provision of information
Reference of applications to an appropriate authority
Directions to the appropriate agency: installations outside the United Kingdom
Plans relating to emissions
Part 7 — Miscellaneous provisions
Death of sole operator
5 years imprisonment- Notify the regulator and transfer permit following the death of an operator Operator
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation of this Part
Repeal
Revocations
Saving
Consequential amendments
Amendment of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007
Transitional provisions: general
Public registers
Site plans not required for existing permits etc.
Review: England
Schedules
Petrol vapour recovery
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must ensure petrol stations comply with vapour recovery rules Statutory regulator
Modification of the Basic Safety Standards Directive
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators replace 'competent authority' in UK radiation safety rules Statutory regulator
Procedure for registering an exempt facility
- Notify the regulator to register or renew your exempt waste or water activity Occupier
Register of exempt facilities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Exemption registration authorities must maintain a public register of exempt facilities Statutory regulator
Duty to remove entries from the register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Exemption registration authority must remove and notify about inactive exempt facilities Statutory regulator
Exclusion from the register of information affecting national security
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must exclude information from register for national security Crown / Minister / Government department
Changes to relevant particulars relating to waste operations
- Notify the regulator of changes to your exempt waste operation details Any Person
Record keeping for exempt waste operations
- Keep waste records for exempt waste operations Any Person
Low-environmental-risk burials at new cemeteries or new extensions of cemeteries: England
- Meet environmental conditions for low-risk burials in new cemeteries Operator
Consultation with ... member States
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consult affected EU/EEA states on environmentally significant permit applications Statutory regulator
Duty to consider representations
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consider representations before deciding on permits or variations Statutory regulator
Duty to determine an application
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must grant or refuse your permit application Statutory regulator
Notification of a determination or decision
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify applicant/operator of permit decision and appeal rights Statutory regulator
Incidents and accidents: deemed condition of a permit
- Immediately report and respond to environmental incidents and permit breaches Operator
Consultation: conditions mentioned in regulation 15(1)
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consult landowners before imposing permit conditions requiring rights over land Statutory regulator
Notice to affected and interested persons
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify affected persons of an appeal and report to the appropriate authority Statutory regulator
Hearing before an appointed person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authority must hold appeal hearing if you request one Crown / Minister / Government department
Notice of determination of an appeal
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appropriate authority must notify appellant of appeal determination and send copies to regulator and interested persons Crown / Minister / Government department
Applications for the grant of an environmental permit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must ensure environmental permit applications include Industrial Emissions Directive information Statutory regulator
Developments in best available techniques
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must monitor best available techniques and encourage emerging techniques Statutory regulator
Inspections
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must comply with Industrial Emissions Directive when inspecting your facility Statutory regulator
Applications for the grant of an environmental permit
- Include all required information in your environmental permit application Applicant
Exercise of relevant functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must control air emissions from industrial installations using best available techniques Statutory regulator
Change in operation
- Notify the regulator of substantial changes in your operation Operator
Developments in best available techniques
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must keep up to date with best available techniques Statutory regulator
Written management system conditions
- Manage your waste operation under a written pollution prevention system Operator
(1) Every environmental permit which authorises a small waste incineration...
- Do not accept separately collected recyclable waste for incineration Operator
Technical competence: notification condition
- Report technical competence compliance in permit returns Operator
Input material
- Measure and sample waste material received at your materials facility Operator
Output material
- Measure and sample output materials from your materials facility Operator
Reports to the regulator
- Submit periodic reports to regulator for materials facility Operator
Waste separately collected for preparing for re-use and recycling not to be landfilled
- Do not accept separately collected recyclable waste for landfill Operator
Applications for the grant of an environmental permit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environmental permit applications must include Industrial Emissions Directive information Statutory regulator
Closure of a mining waste facility
- Comply with closure notice and maintain liability under permit Operator
Developments in best available techniques
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must keep informed of developments in best available techniques Statutory regulator
Applications for grant or variation of an environmental permit for a Category A mining waste facility
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must not grant permit until fire authority has emergency plan info Statutory regulator
Notice requiring environmental permit
- Obtain an environmental permit if the regulator requires it Any Person
Guidance
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consider whether you follow groundwater guidance before enforcement Statutory regulator
Meaning of “groundwater activity”
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must keep records of determinations that discharges are not groundwater activities Statutory regulator
Applications for grant of environmental permit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must assess groundwater risks before granting permit for discharges Statutory regulator
Conditions in respect of solid radioactive waste
- Comply with conditions for exempt disposal of solid radioactive waste Occupier
Conditions in respect of aqueous radioactive waste in paragraph 21
- Dispose of aqueous radioactive waste under exemption conditions Occupier
Inspection programmes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consider hazard, radiation protection, and compliance when setting inspection programmes for radioactive substances Statutory regulator
Installations generating waste heat
- Include cost-benefit analysis for waste heat utilisation in permit applications Any Person
Determination of applications
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must apply energy efficiency cost-benefit analysis to your permit Statutory regulator
Applications for the grant of an environmental permit
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must process environmental permit applications within one month of receiving required information Statutory regulator
Exercise of relevant function
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must ensure compliance with MCPD provisions and prevent dark smoke Statutory regulator
Power to impose a variable monetary penalty
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The Agency may impose variable monetary penalties for environmental offences Statutory regulator
Non-compliance penalty
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Agency can impose penalty for failing to meet third party undertaking Statutory regulator
Browse 372 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Exempt facilities: general
Exempt facilities and waste operations to which section 33(1)(a) of the 1990 Act does not apply: descriptions and conditions
Application to the Crown
Environmental permits
Landfill
Large combustion plants: Industrial Emissions Directive
Enforcement undertakings
Public registers
Revocations
Application of Part B activities: releases into the air
References to releases into water
References to certain substances
Modification of the Directives
Modification of the Asbestos Directive
Modification of PVR I
Modification of PVR II
Modification of the Waste Framework Directive
Modification of the Water Framework Directive
Modification of the WEEE Directive
Modification of the Batteries Directive
Modification of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive
Modification of the Energy Efficiency Directive
Modification of the Industrial Emissions Directive
Modification of the Landfill Directive
Modification of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive
Modification of the Mining Waste Directive
Interpretation: general
Restrictions on registering exempt waste operations carried on at the same place
Validity of registration of waste operations
Periodic inspections of establishments and undertakings
Interpretation: exemption registration authority and exemption authority
General condition
Exempt waste operations
Exempt water discharge activities: Wales
Exempt water discharge activities: England
Exempt groundwater activities: Wales
Exempt groundwater activities: England
Exempt flood risk activities
Treatment of non-hazardous pesticide washings by carbon filtration for disposal (T29)
Recovery of silver (T30)
Recovery of monopropylene glycol from aircraft antifreeze fluids (T31)
Treatment of waste in a biobed or biofilter (T32)
Recovery of central heating oil by filtration (T33)
Closed-loop ground source heating and cooling systems: England
Crown application
Contravention of these Regulations by the Crown
Entry to Crown premises
Service on certain Crown operators
Application of this Schedule to certain radioactive substances activities
Identity and competence of the operator
Surrender applications
Time limits for determination
Calculation of the relevant period
Date of effect of certain determinations and decisions
Form of certain determinations and decisions: consolidation of permits
Interpretation
Making an appeal
Time limit for making an appeal
Procedure following the quashing of a determination of an appropriate authority
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of regulator's functions: general
Exercise of relevant functions
Review of environmental permits
Public participation
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of regulator's functions: general
Review of permits
Records
Disclosure of information by the regulator
Application
Closure of a landfill
Surrender applications
Interpretation: general
Applications for the grant of an environmental permit
Inspection prior to operation
Exercise of relevant functions
Interpretation of the Landfill Directive for the exercise of relevant functions
Interpretation of the Decision Annex for the exercise of relevant functions: general
Interpretation of the Decision Annex for the exercise of relevant functions: additional acceptance criteria relating to physical stability and bearing capacity of granular waste
Interpretation of the Decision Annex for the exercise of relevant functions: additional acceptance criteria in relating to monolithic waste
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Interruption in supply of fuel
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Interpretation
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Exercise of relevant functions
Application
Inventory of closed mining waste facilities
Planning permission conditions
Interpretation
Applications for grant or variation of an environmental permit
Review of environmental permits
Classification of mining waste facilities
Inspections
Exercise of relevant functions
Public participation
Derogation from requirements
Application
Interpretation
Meaning of “water discharge activity”
Highway drains – notice requiring environmental permit
Discharge of trade effluent or sewage effluent into lake or pond – notice requiring environmental permit
Liability resulting from discharge of sewage effluent from public sewer
Application
Notice in relation to a highway drain
Liability resulting from discharge of sewage effluent from public sewer
Interpretation
Meaning of “hazardous substance”
Meaning of “non-hazardous pollutant”
Exercise of relevant functions
Groundwater activities for which a permit may be granted
Prohibition notice
Exemption for receiving and disposing of solid radioactive waste
Solid radioactive waste
Exemption for receiving and disposing of NORM waste
Exemption for disposing of gaseous NORM waste from oil and gas production
Conditions in respect of NORM waste
Exemption for disposing of aqueous radioactive waste in Table 6
Exemption for disposing of other aqueous radioactive waste
Exemption for disposal of gaseous radioactive waste
Conditions in respect of gaseous radioactive waste
Table 4
Table 4A
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Interpretation of this Section
Table 8
Inspection findings
Dilution to reduce concentration of radioactivity
Radioactive waste: requirements to be imposed on permit holders
Dilution of radioactive material and radioactive waste
Monitoring of discharges
Historic radium contamination
Interpretation
Electricity generating installations
Heating and cooling networks
Thresholds
Aggregation of rated thermal input – existing installations
Existing applications for the grant or variation of an environmental permit
Notice boards
Purpose-built sediment traps
Site investigation boreholes and trial pits
Medium Combustion Plants: Medium Combustion Plant Directive
Application
Plant at gas compressor stations – existing medium combustion plants
Temporary derogations – existing and new medium combustion plants
Interpretation
Interpretation of this Part
Emission limit values
Limited operating hours – existing medium combustion plants
Limited operating hours - new medium combustion plants
Small and micro isolated systems – existing medium combustion plants
Specified generators
Application
Interpretation – specified generators
Interpretation – relevant dates and permitting dates
Interpretation - general
Environmental permit conditions: general
Exceptions to environmental permit conditions
Application of Schedule
Meaning of “in-scope generator”
The decarbonisation readiness report and related assessments
The CCR conditions
The HCR conditions
Interpretation: general
Application of Part 2 of this Schedule
Applications for the grant or variation of an environmental permit
Determination of applications
Enforcement undertakings
Publication of enforcement undertakings
Contents of an enforcement undertaking
Acceptance of an enforcement undertaking
General provisions on enforcement undertakings
Discharge of an enforcement undertaking
Inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information
Non-compliance with an enforcement undertaking
Appeals
Guidance as to use of enforcement undertakings
Variable monetary penalties (England)
Power to recover a variable monetary penalty or non-compliance penalty
Variable monetary penalties: appeals
Non-compliance penalty and enforcement cost recovery notice: appeals
Powers of the First-tier Tribunal on appeal
Guidance as to the use of civil sanctions and cost recovery
Publication of enforcement action
Notice of intent to impose a variable monetary penalty
Making representations and objections
Offering a third party undertaking
Procedure for imposition of a variable monetary penalty
Final notice
Variable monetary penalties: criminal proceedings and conviction
Variable monetary penalties: enforcement cost recovery notice
Matters to be included in a public register
Information no longer relevant for public participation
Formal cautions
Spent convictions of individuals
Network Rail (Tinsley Chord) Order 2015
Large Combustion Plants (Transitional National Plan) Regulations 2015
Port Talbot Steelworks Generating Station Order 2015
London Underground (Bank Station Capacity Upgrade) Order 2015
East Midlands Gateway Rail Freight Interchange and Highway Order 2016
National Grid (Hinkley Point C Connection Project) Order 2016
Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2016
A19/A1058 Coast Road (Junction Improvement) Development Consent Order 2016
Palm Paper Mill Generating Station Order 2016
Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016
Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations 2016
Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2016
The Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) (Land Acquisition and Variation) Order 2016
The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Development Consent Order 2016
The Midland Metro (Wolverhampton City Centre Extension) Order 2016
The York Potash Harbour Facilities Order 2016
The Meaford Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2016
The North Wales Wind Farms Connection Order 2016
The Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm Order 2016
The River Humber Gas Pipeline Replacement Order 2016
The M4 Motorway (Junctions 3 to 12) (Smart Motorway) Development Consent Order 2016
The Triton Knoll Electrical System Order 2016
Radioactive Contaminated Land (Modification of Enactments) (England) Regulations 2006
Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2006
Radioactive Contaminated Land (Modification of Enactments) (Wales) Regulations 2006
Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2006
Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007
Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2007
Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008
Co-ordination of Regulatory Enforcement (Enforcement Action) Order 2009
Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009
Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009
Major Accident Off-Site Emergency Plan (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009
Corporation Tax (Land Remediation Relief) Order 2009
Mercury Export and Data (Enforcement) Regulations 2010
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order 2011
Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
Network Rail (Hitchin (Cambridge Junction)) Order 2011
Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011
Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations 2011
Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2012
Ipswich Barrier Order 2012
Network Rail (Ipswich Chord) Order 2012
Network Rail (North Doncaster Chord) Order 2012
Chiltern Railways (Bicester to Oxford Improvements) Order 2012
Climate Change Agreements (Eligible Facilities) Regulations 2012
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2012
Crossrail (Kensal Green) Order 2013
Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Order 2013
Hinkley Point C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2013
Lancashire County Council (Torrisholme to the M6 Link (A683 Completion of Heysham to M6 Link Road)) Order 2013
Leeds Railway Station (Southern Entrance) Order 2013
Croxley Rail Link Order 2013
Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 (Prescribed Relevant Offences and Relevant Enforcement Action) Regulations 2013
Transport for Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Second City Crossing) Order 2013
M1 Junction 10a (Grade Separation) Order 2013
Network Rail (Redditch Branch Enhancement) Order 2013
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013
National Grid (King's Lynn B Power Station Connection) Order 2013
Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Order 2013
Network Rail (Norton Bridge Area Improvements) Order 2014
National Grid (North London Reinforcement Project) Order 2014
East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
Daventry International Rail Freight Interchange Alteration Order 2014
Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
Network Rail (Huyton) Order 2014
A556 (Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement) Development Consent Order 2014
Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014
North Killingholme (Generating Station) Order 2014
Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Order 2014
Central Bedfordshire Council (Woodside Link Houghton Regis) Development Consent Order 2014
South Hook Combined Heat and Power Plant Order 2014
Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order 2014
Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
London Underground (Northern Line Extension) Order 2014
Common Agricultural Policy (Integrated Administration and Control System and Enforcement and Cross Compliance) (Wales) Regulations 2014
Common Agricultural Policy (Control and Enforcement, Cross-Compliance, Scrutiny of Transactions and Appeals) Regulations 2014
Willington C Gas Pipeline Order 2014
Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014
Northumberland County Council (A1 – South East Northumberland Link Road (Morpeth Northern Bypass)) Development Consent Order 2015
A160/A180 (Port of Immingham Improvement) Development Consent Order 2015
Cornwall Council (A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement) Order 2015
Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015
Ship Recycling Facilities Regulations 2015
Infrastructure Planning (Interested Parties and Miscellaneous Prescribed Provisions) Regulations 2015
Control of Major Accidents Hazards Regulations 2015
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015
Knottingley Power Plant Order 2015
Network Rail (Ordsall Chord) Order 2015
Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015
White Moss Landfill Order 2015
Norfolk County Council (Norwich Northern Distributor Road (A1067 to A47(T))) Order 2015
Hazardous Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015
Swansea Bay Tidal Generating Station Order 2015
Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2015
Progress Power (Gas Fired Power Station) Order 2015
Hirwaun Generating Station Order 2015
Dogger Bank Teesside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015
Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station Order 2015
Part A(1) (a) Burning any fuel in an appliance with...
Interpretation and application of Part A(1)
Part A(1) (a) Refining gas where this is likely to...
Interpretation of Section 2.1
Interpretation and application of Section 2.2
Part A(1) (a) Unless falling within Part A(2) of this...
Interpretation of Section 3.2
Part A(1) (a) Manufacturing ceramic products (including roofing tiles, bricks,...
Part A(2) (a) Unless falling within Part A(1) of this...
Part B (a) Unless falling within Part A(1) or A(2)...
Interpretation of Part B
Part A(1) (a) Manufacturing glass fibre in plant with a...
Part A(2) (a) Manufacturing glass, unless falling within Part A(1)...
Part B
Unless falling within Part A(1) or Part A(2) of this...
Part A(2) (a) Manufacturing cellulose fibre reinforced calcium silicate board...
Part B (a) Unless falling within Part A(1) or Part...
Interpretation and application of Part B
Part A(1) (a) Producing cement clinker in rotary kilns with...
Part A(2) (a) Grinding cement clinker.
Part B (a) Storing, loading or unloading cement or cement...
Part A(1) (a) Melting mineral substances including the production of...
Part A(1) (a) Producing (including any blending which is related...
Part A(1) (a) Producing explosives.
Part A(1) (a) Producing inorganic chemicals such as—
Part A(1) (a) Any activity for the manufacture of a...
Interpretation of Section 4.1
Interpretation of Section 4.1
Part A(1) (a) Producing pharmaceutical products.
Part A(1) (a) Producing plant health products or biocides.
Part B (a) The storage in tanks, other than in...
Interpretation of Chapter 4
Part A(1) (a) The disposal of waste in a landfill—...
Part A(1) (a) Disposal or recovery of hazardous waste with...
Part A(1) (a) Disposal of non-hazardous waste with a capacity...
Part A(1) (a) The incineration of hazardous waste in a...
Part A(1) (a) Temporary storage of hazardous waste with a...
Part A(1) (a) Making solid fuel (other than charcoal) from...
Part A(1) (a) Independently operated treatment of waste water not...
Part A(2) (a) Manufacturing new tyres (but not remoulds or...
Part B (a) Unless falling within Part A(1) or Part...
Part A(1) (a) Producing carbon or hard-burnt coal or electro-graphite...
Part A(1) (a) Capture of carbon dioxide streams from an...
Part A(1) (a) Pre-treating (by operations such as washing, bleaching...
Part A(1) (a) Rearing poultry or pigs intensively in an...
Part A(1) (a) Producing, in industrial plant, pulp from timber...
Part A(1) (a) The following activities— (i) distilling tar or...
Part B (a) Any activity not falling within Part A(1)...
Interpretation of Part B
Part B (a) Unless falling within Part A(1) or Part...
Interpretation of Section 6.8
Part A(2) (a) Preservation of wood and wood products with...
Part B (a) Unless falling within Part A(2) of Section...
Interpretation of Part B
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Site security: inspection
- Operator must allow regulator access to inspect radioactive source premises Operator
Advice and assistance in respect of orphan sources
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must ensure prompt technical advice on orphan sources Crown / Minister / Government department
Protected undertakings, railways and bridges
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must not prejudice protected undertakings or interfere without consent Statutory regulator
Emergency works notice
- You must comply with an emergency works notice about flood risk activities Occupier
Incorporation of ash into soil (U14)
- Incorporate burnt cereal/straw ash into soil within 24 hours Any Person
Public participation in relation to certain applications
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must inform the public and invite comments on certain permit applications Statutory regulator
Public participation in relation to regulator-initiated variations
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must notify operator and consult public on proposed permit variations Statutory regulator
Specification of conditions of environmental permits and exercise of relevant functions
- Operators of materials facilities must comply with permit conditions and Chapter 2 rules Operator
Browse 34 other sections
Exercise of relevant functions
Optimisation and dose limits
General conditions
Loss or theft conditions
Loss or theft conditions: mobile radioactive apparatus
Condition to dispose of accumulated waste
Radioactive waste: power of the Secretary of State to provide facilities for disposal or accumulation
Emergency activity
A licensable marine activity in England
sch. 25 para. 5
Regulator's power to take steps to remove and remedy etc.
Use of waste in construction (U1)
Spreading waste on agricultural land to confer benefit (U10)
Spreading waste on non-agricultural land to confer benefit (U11)
Manual treatment of waste (T12)
Pig and poultry ash (U15)
Storage of waste in a secure place (S2)
Recovery of waste at a waste water treatment works (T21)
Small discharges of sewage effluent: England
Small discharges of sewage effluent: England
Entitlement to compensation
Further information in respect of a duly-made application
Public participation: scope
Payment of compensation
Activities falling within more than one Part description
Application of activities falling within Part 2
Application of thresholds for Part A(1) or Part A(2) activities
Operation below thresholds: effect on the installation
Spreading waste on agricultural land to confer benefit (U10)
Pig and poultry ash (U15)
Dewatering using flocculants (T18)
Treatment of kitchen waste in a wormery (T26)
Treatment of sheep dip using organophosphate-degrading enzyme (T27)
Sorting and de-naturing of controlled drugs for disposal (T28)
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- What to include in your hydrogeological risk assessment (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Low environmental risk cemeteries: exemption conditions (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Close your landfill site (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Landfills for inert waste (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Specified generator: apply for an environmental permit (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Plan the environmental setting of your site (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Closed loop ground source heating and cooling systems: exemption conditions (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Non-nuclear RSR: environmental permits (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Restore your landfill site (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- Category A mining waste facilities: financial provision (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- ... and 114 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Environment Agency
PrimaryEnvironmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …
Office for Environmental Protection
Independent body established post-Brexit to scrutinise environmental law and investigate complaints about public authorities' failures to comply with environmental law in England …
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
Mining Remediation Authority (formerly Coal Authority)
Manages effects of historical coal mining in England, Scotland, and Wales. Handles subsidence damage claims, mine water pollution, and other mining legacy …
Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, National Nature …
Natural Resources Wales
Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.