Made under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
3 statutory instruments made using powers in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, newest first. Each one is explained section by section in plain English.
The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Environmental Protection Act 1990
Revised upwards the maximum fixed penalty fines for fly-tipping and littering offences in England effective 1 September 2026.
These Regulations increase the maximum financial penalties that local authorities in England can impose for environmental offences including littering, fly-tipping, graffiti, and fly-posting.
The instrument raises the upper limit for fly-tipping fines to £5,000 and increases the maximum penalty for general littering to £750.
These changes apply to principal litter authorities and relevant local authorities in England, providing them with a broader range within which to set specific penalty amounts for their jurisdictions.
The Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Environmental Protection Act 1990
Established a mandatory digital system for tracking controlled waste in England, introduced a £26 annual operator fee, and granted the Environment Agency powers to issue civil penalties for non-compliance.
These Regulations established an electronic digital waste tracking system in England to monitor the movement and management of controlled waste, including household, industrial, and commercial waste.
They direct operators of permitted facilities to record specified information in the system within two working days of receiving waste and to pay an annual fee of £26 to the designated person, defined as the Secretary of State.
The Environment Agency is authorized to monitor compliance and may impose civil sanctions, such as fixed or variable monetary penalties, or pursue criminal charges for failures to comply with recording, retention, or notification requirements.
The document also provides specific procedures for digitally excluded persons and protocols for system outages.
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025
- Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Made under: Environmental Protection Act 1990
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 exempted the combined collection of certain recyclable waste streams and exempted micro-firms from specific waste collection requirements.
The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025, effective March 31, 2025, establish exemptions to existing regulations regarding waste separation in England and Wales.
These exemptions permit the combined collection of certain recyclable waste streams (metal, glass, plastic) by English waste collection authorities.
Additionally, the regulations exempt micro-firms from certain waste collection requirements until March 31, 2027.
The regulations were drafted in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and following consultation with relevant stakeholders.