• DEFRA defends IPPC

  Faced with a deregulatory climate in Whitehall, DEFRA and the Environment Agency are arguing that IPPC is a spur to innovation

• DTI on power-hungry TVs

  New TV screen technologies are threatening to drive up electricity demand - and the DTI is looking to voluntary action from the industry

• Castle's dioxin dilemma

  Castle Cement's Padeswood works was the UK's biggest source of dioxins in 2004 - a finding which is forcing closure of three kilns

Waste management

• Row on recycling exports

  The Environment Agency is on the spot over exports of household waste after Dutch regulators returned "contaminated" consignments

• WWF on sustainable timber

  WWF has promised to bolster the credibility of its Forest Trade Network by publishing a report on its members' progress

Parliament

• Clean Neighbourhoods Act

  The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill has received Royal Assent after it was fast-tracked ahead of the general election

• DEFRA seeks EUETS changes

  DEFRA has mooted a move away from "grandfathering" of emission rights in the next phase of the EU emissions trading scheme

UK policy

• Chemical substitution plans

  The Government has set out its position on dealing with the highest risk chemicals under the proposed REACH chemicals regime

EU policy

• U-turn on compostables

  The European Commission has abandoned plans for a Directive on biodegradable and compostable wastes

• Bad news piles up on CO₂
• Food industry sustainability strategy
• Glass firms scrap over BAT
• Global HFC emissions set to triple
• Gas guzzlers boost car CO₂ emissions
• Blueprint for low-carbon housing
• Oil industry stand on sulphur in fuel
• Illegal GM maize imports
• SEPA's water and waste plans
• Marine spatial planning shapes up

Waste management

• Report on MBT and landfill targets
• Packaging recovery on track
• Battery recycling plant opens

• New service to monitor corporate compliance
• Tenth birthday for business Environment Index
• Government blocks UK Kyoto project
• Report reveals extent of Thames sewage overflows
• Increase in funds for contaminated land clean-up
• The wasteful game?
• Enforcement action at surface treatment firm

Waste management

• WRAP moves into tyres, batteries and plasterboard
• Generators grumble on "waste" fuel ash
• Viridor wins go-ahead for in-vessel composter

• Tesco moves on organic cotton
• Ofgem's green electricity guidelines
• EMSs 'boost export potential'
• Energy label for central heating pumps

Parliament

• DEFRA challenged on hazwaste
• Audit Committee on green taxes
• MPs' call to arms on climate change

• Government under fire on procurement

Parliament

• Controls on sewage odour in Scotland
• Pesticides initiative criticised
• MPs fire warning shot on road pricing
• DfES panned over environmental education
• Scottish Affairs Committee ducks nuclear replacement
• Six large biofuels plants in the pipeline
• Government responds to N Ireland waste report
• Homes ‘self-sufficient in energy by 2025’

UK policy

• Mixed wastes and renewables obligation
• IPPC guidance for power stations
• COMAH and land use controls
• Consultation on packaging regime
• DTI confirms delay on WEEE
• Moves on farm film recycling
• Hazardous waste regulations
• Licensing for land remediation projects
• Radwaste consultation hits rocky ground
• Marine chemical pollution consultation
• Regulation of private water supplies
• Regulations amend waste licensing exemptions
• Guidance on Household Waste Recycling Act
• Regulations cut LATS penalties
• Change to landfill tax rules
• Call for monitoring of halogens near industry
• DTI publishes global CSR framework
• Moves to expanded pollution inventory
• Advice on sustainability appraisals
• Fluoridation rules take effect
• Controls on paint solvents

EU policy

• Commission plans IPPC audits
• EU summit round-up
• MEPs give car industry more time on recyclability
• MEPs reach deal on energy-using products Directive

• Passing the buck: the politics of sustainable development

• Election manifestos

  The two main political parties are reluctant to make the environment an issue in the election - but the manifestos offer some new policies

• Water framework progress

  Implementing the water framework Directive is a challenging process - and raises concerns about who will pay for water pollution

• GM debate rolls on

  Final results from the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops have dealt a blow to the biotechnology industry, and raise wider questions

• £45,000 fine for foundry

  A West Midlands foundry has been fined for fume emissions which breached its local authority air pollution control authorisation

• South West Water in court again
• Agency 'disappointed' at fridge fine
• Illegal waste family convicted
• £50,000 fine for skip operator
• Solvents leak costs waste firm £27,000
• Potato producer fined £20,000 for landfill offences
• Two offences by Welsh Water
• United Utilities fined twice over sewage pollution
• Scottish Water fined after killing 600 fish
• Imerys fined over another white river incident
• Cinema chain fined for packaging offences
• Leading housebuilder hit with £15,000 fine
• Two sewage offences cost Anglian Water over £8,000
• Sugar pollution costs ‘leading distributor’ £7,500
• Coleslaw pollution costs food firm £22,000
• HLC fined for composting odours