The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation, seeking views on new standard permit rules for cemetery developments and closed-loop ground source heating and cooling systems. The consultation covers proposed rules for moderate burial rates, burials into unweathered bedrock, new natural burial grounds, and closed-loop ground source heating and cooling systems in specific settings. It also seeks views on the associated generic risk assessment for each proposed standard rule. The consultation closes on 24 June 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a whistleblowing portal, allowing water industry workers to report serious environmental wrongdoing by their water companies. Internal water company whistleblowers are encouraged to alert the EA to any concerns, which will then be assessed by the regulator’s expert intelligence teams. Reporters’ identities will be protected and treated as confidential sources. The portal builds on the whistleblowing reports that the EA can already receive under the Prescribed Persons (Reports on Disclosures of Information) Regulations 2017, SI 2017/507.

The Environment Agency (EA) has closed down an illegal waste site in Surrey by blocking access to the site. This follows a restriction order, obtained at Brighton magistrates’ court, under the Environment Act 1995, to restrict access to the site. EA has confirmed that anyone entering the land without reasonable excuse or written permission from the EA, or tampering with the lock or the notice will be committing a criminal offence. The investigation into those responsible for dumping the waste is still open.

The Environment Agency (EA) has opened a consultation on proposed new hourly rates for businesses or occupiers of relevant non-domestic premises not complying with workplace recycling requirements that came into force on 31 March 2025. Micro-businesses with fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees are exempt from the requirements until 31 March 2027. The consultation closes on 15 July 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its 2023 Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) data, showing storm overflow spill frequency and duration across England. Storm overflow spills are measured by event duration monitors, which are fitted on all storm overflows across the country’s water network. The data aids in mapping discharges against rainfall, urging further action from water companies to preserve waterways. The data showed a 54% increase in the number of sewage spills compared to 2022, and a 13% increase compared to 2020. The EA noted that an increase in the installation of monitors means direct comparisons of spill data may not be an accurate representation of development over time, and the increase in spills may be partly explained by the increased level of rainfall in 2023. The EA Director of Water, Helen Wakeham, commented on the data increase, stating that ‘whilst it is disappointing that water companies have reported an increase in sewage spills in 2023, it is sadly not surprising. We are pleased to see record investment from the water sector, but we know it will take time for this to be reflected in spill data’.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its first Chief Regulator's report for 2023-24, providing an overview of the performance of businesses and activities regulated by the EA in England. The report reveals that 93% of over 14,000 businesses are complying with their environmental permits, with £8.7m in fines issued, 63 illegal waste sites successfully shut down, and 34,000 tonnes of waste prevented from illegal export. However, it highlights significant concerns in the water industry, with 5 out of 9 water and sewerage companies requiring substantial improvements, with recent data showing a substantial increase in spills—464,056 hours compared to 301,091 in 2022. The Chief Regulator, Jo Nettleton, emphasised the need for reforms to the UK's environmental regulation framework, calling for a more simplified and responsive system. She also calls for resilient funding, including increased cost recovery, to improve digital services, customer advice, and data-led decision-making. The EA has also published its 2023 data on regulated businesses, supporting the Chief Regulator's report. This includes datasets on compliance ratings for waste and installation permits, pollution inventories, category 1 and 2 pollution incidents, compliance assessments, prosecutions, and waste crime.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its 2023-24 analysis report of the annual review submissions for water resources management plans (WRMP) from water companies across England. This analysis summarises and reviews progress on key water demand and supply metrics across the wholesale water sector. The EA highlights that although companies are making steady progress in certain areas, a continued and enhanced focus on leakage reduction, water efficiency improvement, and the successful delivery of supply schemes is crucial during 2024-25. It states that early preparations for the next price review period beginning in 2025-26 will ensure the successful implementation of the updated 2024 WRMP (WRMP24).

The Environment Agency (EA) has published the 2024 water company Event Duration Monitoring annual return data, outlining the frequency and duration of spills from storm overflows in England. The data indicates a 2.9% reduction in sewage spills compared to 2023, but a 0.2% increase in the total duration of spills. The average number of spills per overflow was 31.8, down from 33.1 in 2023. Additionally, 39% of storm overflows spilled fewer than ten times, down from 40.5% in 2023, while 12.5% did not spill at all, down from 13.9% in 2023.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its 2024–25 analysis report of the annual review submissions for water resources management plans (WRMP) from water companies across England. The report assesses industry performance on key water demand and supply metrics across the wholesale water sector during April 2024 to March 2025. The EA notes that while progress has been made in some areas, particularly in leakage reduction and metering, overall demand and leakage remain above forecast levels. It emphasises the need for sustained year-round action on water efficiency, accelerated smart meter rollouts, and timely delivery of supply schemes to strengthen water resilience. The EA further highlights that the period from 2025–30 will be critical to securing sustainable supplies, protecting the environment, and ensuring effective implementation of the updated 2024 water resources management plans (WRMP24).

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its 2024-25 corporate scorecard, providing a performance overview against its environmental and business aims. The EA updates its executive directors and the board every three months on the corporate scorecard’s progress, enabling the monitoring of the EA’s progress in achieving its stated aims as outlined in the EA action plan.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published its 2026 monitoring plan for packaging producer responsibility in England. The plan sets out the EA’s approach to monitoring compliance by producers, compliance schemes, reprocessors and exporters under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/1332. It also details how compliance activities are funded, outlines procedures for addressing non-compliance and describes the EA’s risk-based approach to identifying businesses that pose the greatest risks to the packaging regime and the environment.

The Environment Agency (EA) has published guidance, detailing requirements for independent third-party verification of annual fossil fuel boiler sales reports under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/81. The verification guidance is part of a new CHMM resource page, which collates six other guidance documents covering topics such as credit systems, compliance requirements, and heat pump certification standards.