• SEPA flexes on air quality

  SEPA is pressuring a local authority to declare an air quality management area close to BP's Grangemouth refinery due to high SO₂ levels

• BP moves on carbon capture

  Oil giant BP is moving ahead with plans to capture CO₂ from an onshore power plant and inject it in a North Sea oil field

• Agency crackdown on crime

  The Environment Agency is planning to focus its enforcement activity on "big, bad and nasty" organised crime

Waste management

• Landfill permit bottle-neck

  More than a quarter of early applications for non-hazardous landfill permits have been refused by the Environment Agency

• FDG threatens gypsum glut

  New flue-gas desulphurisation plant at power stations will hugely increase gypsum supplies and may threaten plasterboard recycling

• Biodiesel subsidy under fire

  Oleochemical manufacturers want an end to biodiesel subsidies which they say are driving them to less sustainable oil-based feedstocks

UK policy

• Waste deadline looms

  Waste producers are struggling to meet sampling and testing rules as new guidance is published by the Environment Agency

• EHOs pan odour guidance

  Environmental health officers and key local authorities have condemned draft guidance on sewage odours as "fundamentally flawed"

EU policy

• REACH impacts ‘manageable’

  An industry analysis of the EU REACH proposals has downplayed fears on product withdrawals and impacts on downstream users

• Row over ISO14001 accreditation
• Ships suspected as Corus' particle source
• General Electric boosts green investment
• Low-carbon investment booms
• London Mayor rejects desalination plan
• Pressure grows Thames super-sewer
• Flame retardant hangs in the balance
• IPPC clamp-down on steelworks
• SEPA's struggle with glass fibre plant

Waste management

• Report backs energy from waste
• Growth in composting eases off

• First accredited certification body for BS8555
• Environment Agency opts for EMAS
• NSCA study backs roadside emissions testing
• ‘Steady growth’ in global carbon market
• Scots drinking water regulator urged to tighten up
• Agency action over noise pollution
• Fuel cell company wins carbon innovation award
• Correction: Anopol and IPPC

Waste management

• Progress on joint waste strategies
• Cory plans UK’s biggest MBT plant

• TV energy performance targets
• Camden council's procurement policy
• Retailers' plans on REACH imports
• WRAP tackles printing and writing paper

UK policy

• Regional waste planning controversy
• Rules on verification for EU ETS
• SEPA guide on inspection rates
• Queen's speech round-up
• OFR guidance and regulations
• Guidance for councils on effluent discharges
• Exemption from climate levy for metal recycling
• Guidance on transport and air quality plans

EU policy

• Shake-up of EU air quality policy
• MEPs back down on marine fuel
• Transport Ministers agree lorry charging rules
• Experts call for more work on PFOS risks

International

• Progress on persistent organics treaty

• No time for complacency on PVC

• Nuclear debate reignites

  Just two years after the energy White Paper, the Government is being pushed to reconsider the case for new nuclear capacity

• Is PVC on the up?

  The PVC industry has weathered attacks on its environmental credentials, but faces challenges on plasticisers and other additives

• Engaging with the public

  An explosion in stakeholder engagement in environmental decision-making is forcing both firms and regulators to hone new skills

• Nuclear technologies in the frame
• Change of gear needed for voluntary programme
• Legislative drivers for participation
• Getting to grips with the public

• Thames lands £60,000 fine

  Thames Water has been fined for £60,000 for an incident in which staff ignored five alarms from an unmanned sewage works

• Legal challenge on cement kiln
• Sewage odour appeal
• Fine for illegal scrap metal site
• ECJ ruling on nuclear facilities
• Councils and commercial waste collection
• NI quarry gets slapped wrists for river pollution
• Scania fined £15,000 for packaging offences
• South West Water fined for polluting recreational water
• Metal recycler fined over storm of green dust
• Missing valve costs construction firms £25,000
• Waste burning singes skip hire firm’s pockets
• Coking works' sulphur breach
• Illegal fridge dump costs company £20,000
• Dead duck costs food distributor £35,000
• ‘Human error’ costs Anglian Water £9,000
• Smelly landfill lands Sita second fine in eight months