David Alcock is a senior environmental consultant specialising in waste permitting and regulatory compliance.
A New Era for End-of-Life Vehicle Permitting 2026: What the EA’s Latest Consultation Means for Operators Summary: What the EA’s New End of Life Vehicle Permit Consultation Means for Operators The Environment Agency’s latest consultation proposes a major overhaul of how end-of-life vehicle (ELV) sites are permitted, operated and monitored across England. The new draft…
Environmental Permit Applications UK: Why Expert Support Matters More Than Ever Environmental permit applications in the UK should follow a clear and structured process. However, for many businesses, applying for or varying a permit can feel more like navigating a maze, marked by shifting expectations, inconsistent communication, and frustrating delays. Learn more about our environmental…
Why Practical Compliance Matters At AC Environmental, we have spent decades helping waste operators, recyclers and construction firms navigate the complex world of environmental compliance. For fire prevention plans & environmental management systems, having the right documentation is essential, but it is only half the story. Because let us be honest. It’s one thing to…
The Environment Agency Announces Major Changes to Waste Exemptions. The Environment Agency has announced its intention to reform the Environmental Permitting Regulations, which will result in significant changes to waste exemptions in 2025. These updates aim to strengthen oversight, reduce misuse, and raise compliance standards across the UK waste sector. Reforming the waste exemptions system…
What do the New Waste Exemption Charges Mean for Your Business? The Environment Agency has introduced a new charging scheme for waste exemptions, effective July 2025. This change affects operators across the waste and environmental sectors. Under the new system, charges are split into two parts: A registration charge of £56, which covers multiple exemptions…
Stricter Rules Proposed for Battery Treatment and Storage Sites / Facilities The Environment Agency has released draft guidance that could significantly impact operators of battery treatment and storage sites handling waste batteries, including those in the scrap metal and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) sectors. The guidance document, titled Waste Batteries: Appropriate Measures for Permitted Facilities, is…
Landfill Tax Changes: What the 2025 Consultation Means for UK Waste Operators The Government have launched a consultation on landfill tax changes that could have major consequences for waste companies, construction and demolition firms. Launched on 28 April, the consultation proposes scrapping the lower rate of landfill tax and removing key exemptions used in site…
The government plans to remove the lower rate of Landfill Tax by 2030 Overview of the Proposed Landfill Tax Changes The Government is proposing to remove the lower rate of landfill tax and introduce a single, standardised rate by 2030. As part of these landfill tax reforms, the ‘qualifying fines regime’ will be phased out…
Environmental Permitting – a new record? As you all know, environmental permitting has been in a shocking state since Covid, with permits routinely taking up to 12 months and occasionally longer. So it was with real surprise that we received a permit on behalf of a client just over 10 weeks after submission. We submitted…
Smaller metal recyclers brace for “challenges” of EA permit overhaul. The BMRA has launched a survey to garner the feelings of its members who operate under the T9 exemption which is facing the cut. The prospect of the withdrawal of the T9 exemption was first mooted back in 2018 but as yet no firm date…