news

Media release

April 2011

New waste regulations come into force

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/988) implement the revised EU Waste Framework Directive 2008/98, which sets requirements for the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste. They revoke the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulation 1991.

They require businesses to confirm (on their waste transfer note or consignment note) that they have applied the waste management hierarchy (prevention, re-use, recycling, recovery, disposal) when transferring waste.

A two-tier system is introduced for waste carrier and broker registration, including a new concept of a waste dealer.

Amendments to hazardous waste controls are made by introducing new criteria to the list of properties defining waste as hazardous.

Finally there are some categories of waste now excluded from waste controls.

March 2011

New CRC discussion papers launched by DECC

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has prepared informal proposals on further changes to the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) in order to stimulate stakeholder comment.

The proposals are stated not to be Government policy but a mechanism to fuel debate and exchange of ideas following the consultation which closed in December 2010. Whilst priority areas for simplification are identified, other areas are also outlined as potential candidates for discussion papers and there is a catch-all invitation for views on the scheme generally.

This move would suggest that there is still room for debate and that DECC is yet to make its mind up on the precise workings of the CRC. This is an opportunity for businesses, whether obligated in the scheme or not, to influence the outcome of what has been labelled a stealth carbon tax.

The priority areas for simplification are:

• Private (business) sector organisational rules of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme 
• Review of the CRC supply
• Review of the CRC qualification criteria
• Reducing the overlap between schemes (especially between the CRC scheme, Climate Change Agreements and the EU Emissions Trading System)
• Timing and frequency of allowances in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme from 2012 onwards

Due to feedback received DECC has identified other aspects of the CRC which could be reviewed which include:

• The nature of the reputational incentives of the scheme
• Definition of transport used in the scheme
• Treatment of public versus private sector participants
• Energy threshold for qualification
• Treatment of heat
• Landlord/Tenant relationships and responsibilities

DECC has also stated that any views on how the CRC scheme could be simplified would be welcomed and has provided suggestions on conditions which should be met.

 

Final week of consultation into changes to Controlled Waste Regulations

A consultation closes this week on whether Local Authorities should be allowed to charge businesses for waste disposal costs from April 2011, when landfill tax rates are also set to rise.

Currently Local Authorities have a duty to remove waste from certain organisations producing non-domestic ‘household waste’ as listed in Schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992, such as residential homes, hospitals, prisons, schools and campsites. These are currently classed as generators of 'household' rather than 'commercial' waste for which a charge for the removal of the wastecan be levied, but not for its disposal.

The changes to the Regulations would;

• Give local authorities the power to charge for the disposal of non-domestic ‘Schedule 2’ waste;
• Retain local authorities discretion on charging so that they can make decisions best suited to local circumstances
• Provide free disposal to charity shops and reuse organisations who help to reduce household waste by encouraging re-use;
• Make regulations easier to use by restructuring, classifying terminology and updating references to other waste legislation; and
• Retaining local authorities duty to collect, if requested, waste from institutions currently listed in Schedule 2, in the interests of public health.  

Click here for The Controlled Waste Regulations consultation

Environment Agency Finally gain civil sanction powers

Following the release of the Environmental Civil Sanctions Order in April last year, the Environment Agency finally got powers of enforcement on the 4th January 2011 to use civil sanctions in their armoury for environmental offences.

The sanctions include fixed monetary penalties for minor offences and variable monetary penalties capped at £250,000 for more serious offences. The Agency will also be able to order a harmful activity to stop through the use of stop notices, require compliance by a certain date, or compel environmental damage to be reversed.

The move has largely been welcomed by businesses, who rather than face lengthy and costly criminal prosecutions in the event of environmental crimes, may now face civil sanctions from the regulatory body who have the option to use new powers to deal with the offence and secure clean up in a far quicker way. This may even include a voluntary 'enforcement undertaking' where the company agrees to take agreed steps within an agreed time limit either to stop offending, or prevent further offences or to make right any harm caused by its offending.

December 2010

Government to close Environment Agency's Netregs website 

An announcement made by Government last week has indicated that the Environment Agency's Netregs site, along with 75% of other government websites will be shut down over the next 3 months. Content from these sites will be re-distributed where necessary to other business sites, which will effectively fragment the information service many businesses rely on for their updates.

If you have previously used Netregs for your environmental legal updates, don't panic! Take a look at our environmental legislation update service ELUS and see if we could offer you a low cost solution, providing you with peace of mind, saving time and money . Click here to find out more.

November 2010

Groundwork Pennine Lancashire joins UKELA

Groundwork Pennine Lancashire and ELUS has recently joined the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA).

UKELA is the UK's foremost membership organisation working to improve understanding and awareness of environmental law, and to make the law work for a better environment. Its members - including lawyers and non-lawyers from across the private, public and voluntary sectors - are involved in the practice, study and formulation of environmental law across the UK and EU. For more information to join UKELA, and to participate in their activities, visit the website at: UK Environmental Law Association

October 2010

We are now LinkedIn - Join the group and voice your opinions

We have recently set up groups in the professional networking site LinkedIn for ELUS and HASLUS. Use the link below to access the groups, sign up and start or contribute to a discussion. We'll also use this forum to inform members of new developments to the ELUS and HASLUS services. These developments tend to stem from suggestions from our subscribers, as this is the best way we ensure we keep meeting our customers needs and expectations.

Visit:
LinkedIn ELUS group

 

September 2010

And the winner is...

Ennis Prismo Traffic Safety Solutions - Winners of a FREE year's subscription to ELUS worth £599, for completing this year's customer satisfaction survey 2010.

 The draw took place on the 14th September and Ennis Prismo Traffic Safety Solutions were picked out at random from all the ELUS customers that returned their surveys.

Many thanks to all our subscribers who took time to complete the survey. The information you provided is invaluable to us in order to ensure we maintain the high quality of service you expect, and continue to develop the ELUS and HASLUS products to meet your needs.

Remember that if you 'recommend a friend' who subsequently takes up the product, you could receive a 10% discount on your next ELUS or HASLUS subscription.

May 2010

Thanks for visiting us at Sustainability Live!

A big thank you to all the companies that came to see us at Sustainability Live! at the NEC last month. We received a great amount of interest in ELUS and HASLUS, and delegates were keen to find out more about Groundworks' wider activities, not only with business support around the country, but our wider social agenda as an environmental charity.

Look out for us in the next IEMA magazine as we talk about our new partnership with law firm Pannone LLP, to help keep ELUS and HASLUS at the forefront of keeping businesses up to date with accurate legal summaries.

March 2010

Come and visit ELUS and HASLUS at Sustainability Live!: 20-22 April 2010

ELUS and HASLUS will be exhibiting this year as part of the Groundwork stand at the biggest sustainability event of the year - Sustainability Live! 2010, held at Birmingham's NEC from the 20th to the 22nd April.

Why not come and visit us in the Sustainable Business section on stand K51, and find out more about how we can help keep you up to date with the latest environment and health & safety legislation, and how we fit into one of the largest environmental charities in the country, investing surpluses back into the community.

 

November 2009

New ELUS and HASLUS website launched to help businesses stay compliant

The launch of a new website will enable businesses to stay compliant with the latest legislation affecting them in a simple and affordable way.

ELUS (Environmental Legislation Update Service) and HASLUS (Health and Safety Legislation Update Service) are designed to save companies the hassle of trawling through documentation to stay up-to-date.

www.elus.co.uk makes the services 100% electronic, so they’re easy to use and paper waste is minimised. 

Run by social enterprise Newground CIC, all profits made from ELUS and HASLUS are invested back into communities in need.

Developed more than 10 years ago in response to increased concerns from businesses, ELUS and HASLUS originally consisted of paper updates mailed out monthly to customers.

Now, businesses can access a bespoke legal register online and receive legislation updates by email.

Jamie Bearman, information services manager for ELUS and HASLUS, said: “We read over 30,000 words a day, translate them into plain English and then show you the parts that are relevant to your company.

“ELUS and HASLUS are easy to implement, risk-free and great value for money. As they are now available online, customers can access the services from any PC with internet access. Plus, it’s great for a company’s corporate social responsibility as they’re associating with a recognised not for profit organisation.”