Environment & Sustainability
Waste management, recycling, environmental consulting and green services.
Business activities
This sector covers the following areas of business activity:
Key regulators
These regulatory bodies oversee compliance in this sector:
- DAERA Northern Ireland departmental authority for agriculture, environmental policy, rural affairs, fisheries and veterinary matters. Acts as the NI competent authority …
- DEFRA Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works …
- Mining Remediation Authority Manages effects of historical coal mining in England, Scotland, and Wales. Handles subsidence damage claims, mine water pollution, and other …
- Natural England Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, …
- NIEA Northern Ireland's environmental regulator. Part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Issues environmental permits, regulates waste …
- NRW Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues …
- SEPA Scotland's principal environmental regulator. Protects and improves Scotland's environment. Issues environmental permits for waste, emissions, water abstraction, and radioactive substances. …
Guided journeys
Step-by-step guides for businesses in this sector:
Starting a waste business
Complete compliance guide for waste transfer stations, treatment facilities, skip hire, and recycling centres. Covers environmental permits, waste carrier registration, and ongoing obligations.
Start journey →Responding to environmental enforcement
What to do if you receive an enforcement notice or warning letter from an environmental regulator. Covers types of enforcement action, immediate steps, appeal rights, and demonstrating improvement.
Start journey →Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses
Complete compliance pathway for businesses whose activities may affect water body status — from understanding the WFD framework through identifying which licences, permits, or consents you need, to applying, monitoring, and reporting. Covers England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Start journey →Guidance for environment & sustainability
Sector-Specific
- Manage your environmental permit compliance — How to stay compliant with your environmental permit conditions. Covers monitoring and recording, reporting to …
Compliance & Legal
- Get authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (CAR) — How to comply with Scotland's Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR 2011) for any activity affecting surface …