The Environment Agency (EA) has published guidance establishing notification requirements for constructing new or substantially enlarging existing silage, slurry or agricultural fuel oil storage facilities, or storing field silage on new sites in England. The guidance requires operators to provide notification at least 14 days before commencing construction or substantial modifications. Operators must confirm that storage locations are not within 10 metres of coastal waters or inland freshwaters, and not within 50 metres of springs, wells, or boreholes. The notification process mandates the inclusion of a ten-digit National Grid reference, the site address and contact details. Operators may also optionally submit site plans, design drawings and manufacturer specifications to receive bespoke guidance.

The EA was established in 1996 to protect and improve the Environment in England and Wales (for Scotland see SEPA). The EA’s role is the enforcement of specified laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment, in the context of sustainable development predominantly by authorising and controlling radioactive discharges and waste disposals to air, water (surface water, ground water) and land. The principal means by which the EA regulates nuclear sites is through environmental permits issued under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. The EA also participates in the GDA Process.

The Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Natural England have extensive, but not unlimited, powers to enter premises. Environment Agency powers Rights of entry and investigation conferred by section 108 of the Environment Act 1995 (EA 1995) are exercisable without the need for a warrant (although a warrant may be required where permission to enter has been or is likely to be refused). However, entry must be strictly in accordance with the terms of written authorisation and must be for the purpose of: • determining whether pollution control or flood risk activity law is being or has been complied with • exercising or performing one of the pollution control or flood risk activity functions of the authority • determining whether and, if so, how such a function should be performed, or • determining whether any of the offences listed in EA 1995, s 108(1)(d) are being or have been committed Powers of entry are also available under EA 1995, s 108 where the EA is required to

Environment analysis: The Environment Agency’s (EA) Chief Regulator, Dr Jo Nettleton, has published her report, calling for reforms to the environmental regulatory framework to better protect people and the environment while enabling businesses to grow. Written by Paul Collins, of Ashfords LLP.

The Environment Agency has accepted updated enforcement undertakings, which are dated 12  August 2024. New entries for 1 November 2023 to 26 July 2024 have been added and the expired entries from civil sanctions imposed by the Environment Agency have been removed.

The Environment Agency has provided an update on its ongoing criminal investigation into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions by water and sewerage companies in England, which encompasses over 2,200 wastewater treatment works and has already resulted in the review of 35,000 exhibits and production of 1,050 statements. The agency is now gathering external witness statements, including from whistleblowers, and has launched a dedicated portal for reporting environmental wrongdoing.

The Environment Agency (EA) and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Organised Crime Unit have announced the seventh arrest in their ongoing investigation into fraud, money laundering and breaches under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (PRO(PW)R 2007), SI 2007/871. The investigation targets organised criminal activity within the recycling sector, where illicit operators are exploiting the system that requires businesses to purchase Packaging Export Recovery Notes to fund recycling efforts. This ongoing inquiry seeks to dismantle criminal networks that undermine legitimate businesses and harm the environment, as demonstrated by the recent apprehension in Leeds.

The Environment Agency has announced that it has blocked access to an apparent illegal waste site in Ashford, Kent, to prevent further alleged illegal tipping. It has said that on 16 January 2024, a restriction order was obtained at Medway magistrates’ court to restrict access to the location at Hoads Wood site of specific scientific interest (SSSI), prohibiting anyone from entering or depositing waste on the site. The Environment Agency has confirmed that it has now locked the site’s access gate, put concrete blocks in place to stop access and placed a warning notice at the entrance.

The Environment Agency has announced the results of Operation Unite, an 18-week nationwide enforcement operation targeting permitted waste sites suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Launched in March 2026, the operation involved inspections of 42 sites across England, resulting in 17 environmental permits being suspended or having their revocation underway, in some cases both, and more than 30 new criminal investigations. Enforcement activity included the closure of two illegal waste sites and the revocation of an environmental permit in West Lancashire following complaints from residents about foul smells and dust, as well as permit suspensions at sites including Twyford Recycling Limited and PB Donoghue Construction Ltd due to issues such as fire risks, pollution risks, permit breaches and non-compliance with permit conditions.

The Environment Agency has announced the conviction of Shaobo Qin, director of EDU Case Ltd, for making fraudulent entries on the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD). On 16 May 2025, Birmingham Crown Court ordered payments totaling £476,995, which included a £255,057 confiscation order issued under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA 2002), a £200,000 company fine, and £21,995 in investigation costs. Qin pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and received a two-year prison sentence for entering false data regarding 785.4 tonnes of non-existent plastic waste exports in 2022. This fraud accounted for approximately two-thirds of the company's trading volume. The case was prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006 (FrA 2006), while the company operated under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (PRO(PW)R 2007), SI 2007/871.

The Environment Agency (EA) and West Yorkshire Police conducted joint site checks at Mineral Processing Ltd's South Elmsall facility following a suspension notice that prohibits waste imports. The company has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but the notice which requires staged waste removal remains in force. EA officers identified permit breaches during inspections and are assessing enforcement options. The agency has installed a Mobile Monitoring facility for air quality measurement and is working with Wakefield Council to use joint regulatory powers to address permit violations.

The Environment Agency (EA) has announced that, together with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Sefton Council and Merseyside Police, it has conducted a joint site visit at Johnson’s Scrap Metal Ltd in Southport after investigations suggested the company continued operating despite its environmental permit being revoked on 17 January 2025. TThe company, trading as Johnson’s Skip Hire, was required to stop all waste operations and clear all waste from its site at Crowland Industrial Estate. Members of the public and local businesses have been warned that it is now a criminal offence to send waste to Johnson’s Skip Hire Ltd at Crowland Street in Southport.