Digital waste tracking helpdesk: privacy notice
Page summary:
How the Digital waste tracking helpdesk will use and manage your personal data.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
4:08pm, 2 February 2026
UK’s first-ever plan to tackle ‘forever chemicals’
Page summary:
New framework will protect public health and the environment from risks posed by PFAS.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
12:01am, 3 February 2026
PFAS Plan
Page summary:
A cross-government, science-led plan to understand impacts of PFAS on public health and the environment, with coordinated actions to minimise risks.
Change made:
Added the ‘Introduction’ section to the English language PFAS Plan. This was left out of the original publication in error.
Time updated:
2:44pm, 3 February 2026
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: check the public registers
Page summary:
Find producers, compliance schemes and reprocessors and exporters who are subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Clarifying that the register of producers is now the 2026 register and explaining that the 2025 register will be republished shortly.
Time updated:
3:00pm, 3 February 2026
EPR for packaging: how local authority payments are calculated
Page summary:
Find out the methodology and procedure used to calculate payments to local authorities for Year 1 (2025 to 2026) and Year 2 (2026 to 2027).
Change made:
Worked examples updated from PDF to HTML in Welsh and English.
Time updated:
10:55am, 4 February 2026
Packaging waste: apply for registration and accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter
Page summary:
How to apply for mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter of packaging waste – includes how to comply with requirements and technical information.
Change made:
Registered charities are no longer exempt from registering if they are acting as a reprocessor or exporter of packaging waste, due to recent amendments to the legislation.
Time updated:
11:08am, 4 February 2026
Packaging data: what to collect for extended producer responsibility
Page summary:
A guide to collecting data about your packaging. This is for UK organisations affected by extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
This update aligns the guidance with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, covering multi-brand packaging, adding components to packaging, closed-loop packaging waste, fibre-based composite and evidence requirements.It also adds information on enforcement powers, record-keeping, resubmission requirements. The update removes outdated content on the 2007 regulations transitional period and simplifies plastic/paper bag reporting to reference RPS 330.Various factual corrections include the online marketplace methodology deadline, small producer drinks container wording, and terminology changes (“waste disposal fee” not “waste management fee”).
Time updated:
4:07pm, 4 February 2026
Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
Page summary:
Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.
Change made:
The foot and mouth disease (FMD) section has been updated to provide details on action taken due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Botswana.
Time updated:
4:39pm, 4 February 2026
Register with the environmental regulator: extended producer responsibility for packaging
Page summary:
How to register with the environmental regulator if your organisation is obligated under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging, deadlines for registration and registration fees.
Change made:
Updating fees for 2026.
Time updated:
12:24pm, 5 February 2026
Public register of reprocessors and exporters of UK packaging waste
Page summary:
List of all operators registered and accredited under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Updated the public register.
Time updated:
6:00pm, 5 February 2026
Aujeszky’s Disease in Europe
Page summary:
SME to provide
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
11:12am, 6 February 2026
Aujeszky’s disease in Europe
Page summary:
Preliminary outbreak assessments for Aujeszky’s disease in Europe.
Change made:
Added Preliminary Outbreak Assessment for Aujeszky’s Disease in Europe.
Time updated:
2:15pm, 6 February 2026
Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring
Page summary:
Monitoring for major, notifiable or new and emerging animal disease outbreaks internationally and in the UK.
Change made:
Added Outbreak assessment for Aujeszky’s Disease (AD) in Europe.
Time updated:
2:24pm, 6 February 2026
Businesses approved to export to the EU
Page summary:
Check if your business in Great Britain or one of the Crown Dependencies is approved to export to the EU and find out what your TRACES number is.
Change made:
Updated the lists of businesses approved to export to the EU.
Time updated:
2:38pm, 6 February 2026
Summary logs for UK packaging waste: an overview
Page summary:
An introduction to the summary logs that reprocessors and exporters need to use to record packaging waste activity under Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging requirements.
Change made:
Registered and accredited operators for 2026 can now access the service to upload summary logs. They can access the service via an email invitation link that will be sent once their applications are approved.
Time updated:
2:49pm, 6 February 2026
Reforming domestic CITES implementation
Page summary:
Seeking views on regulatory reforms to the implementation of CITES domestically.
Change made:
Added the summary of responses and government response.
Time updated:
9:30am, 9 February 2026
150 countries approve a new blueprint for business action on nature
Page summary:
• UK hosted nature summit ends with agreement of a Business & Biodiversity Assessment to shape private sector action on nature
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
4:00pm, 9 February 2026
Digital waste tracking service
Page summary:
Our plans to introduce mandatory digital waste tracking, the benefits of this change, the timelines and impacts.
Change made:
Updated the contact details for getting help with digital waste tracking.
Time updated:
9:52am, 10 February 2026
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: mergers and transfers of ownership
Page summary:
What to do if your company merges with another company, or acquires a brand or business from another producer
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
1:08pm, 10 February 2026
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: who is affected and what to do
Page summary:
How UK organisations that supply or import packaging should comply with extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Compliance schemes can now register producers on the service. This update also adds some clarifications following recent legislation: charities are not exempt from reprocessor or exporter obligations and you must notify the regulators within 28 days if you stop being a producer.
Time updated:
4:24pm, 10 February 2026
Animal diseases: evaluating risks through international trade
Page summary:
Assessing the likelihood of introducing animal diseases to Great Britain through the trade of live animals and animal products.
Change made:
Added a link to the audit report ‘Avian influenza and Newcastle disease: audit of United States of America’s poultry compartments’.
Time updated:
1:00pm, 11 February 2026
Largest ever enforcement workforce protecting waterways from pollution
Page summary:
Environment Agency water enforcement team increases by almost fivefold since 2023
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:30pm, 11 February 2026
ENV01 – Emissions of air pollutants
Page summary:
Annual update to tables on emissions of important air pollutants in the UK.
Change made:
Annual update.
Time updated:
9:30am, 12 February 2026
Emissions of air pollutants
Page summary:
An annual publication covering the emissions of some important air pollutants.
Change made:
Annual update.
Time updated:
9:30am, 12 February 2026
Apply for an environmental permit
Page summary:
How to apply for environmental permit for an activity in England that could cause pollution, increase flood risk or affect land drainage.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:00am, 12 February 2026
Pollution prevention for businesses
Page summary:
How businesses and organisations can avoid causing pollution from oil and chemical storage, car washing, construction and other activities.
Change made:
Updated the ‘Construction, inspection and maintenance’ section, ‘Work in, over or near a river, stream, lake or pond’ subsection, to link to the new service for applying for a herbicide agreement online in England.
Time updated:
10:00am, 12 February 2026
Waste: environmental permits
Page summary:
Standard rules and bespoke permits for using, treating, storing and disposing of waste. Check if you need a permit and find out how to apply.
Change made:
Added information about how to apply online for the following permits in England: car and vehicle dismantling; metal recycling, scrap metal and WEEE – not cars or vehicles; waste transfer station or amenity site with or without treatment; storage or treatment of waste – recycling, dredging, clinical, soil, tyre shred or wood treatment – not including low impact installations and treatment of incinerator bottom ash.
Time updated:
10:00am, 12 February 2026
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: recycling obligations and waste disposal fees
Page summary:
UK organisations that are affected by extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging may need to get evidence of packaging waste recycling and pay disposal fees.
Change made:
You can now accept 2025 December waste PRNs and PERNs to meet your 2026 recycling obligations in the Report Packaging Data service. We have removed a section of this guidance that said this functionality was not available yet.
Time updated:
11:42am, 12 February 2026
Clarifying information: imports of live animals and germinal products – IIN GEN/5
Page summary:
Clarifications on technical information about the import requirements for live animals and germplasm, for use by vets, importers and border officials.
Change made:
A clarification has been added for GBHC814
Time updated:
2:53pm, 12 February 2026
Packaging waste: apply for registration and accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter
Page summary:
How to apply for mandatory registration and voluntary accreditation as a reprocessor or exporter of packaging waste – includes how to comply with requirements and technical information.
Change made:
Added a link to a new Environment Agency regulatory position statement about monthly reporting for accredited operators.
Time updated:
3:24pm, 12 February 2026
Public register of reprocessors and exporters of UK packaging waste
Page summary:
List of all operators registered and accredited under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Updated the public register.
Time updated:
11:27am, 13 February 2026
