DEFRA wants bin fines to become civil sanctions

The government is planning to reform council household waste penalties and introduce civil sanctions

Skip hire boss fined for lacking permit

Magistrates have fined an illegal waste operator based in Northamptonshire £10,000

Northern Ireland bag tax to start at 5p

There will be a charge for single-use plastic carrier bags in Northern Ireland from April 2013

Agency plans to prune pollution inventory

The Environment Agency is consulting on cutting the number of pollutants that sites must report on

Man sentenced for waste tyre offences

For illegally storing and exporting tyres the Chesterfield man was given a suspended prison sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work

Retailer waste fines slashed on appeal

Fines for dumping waste against West Country firm Trago Mills have been reduced by two thirds

Permit breaches cost waste firm £22k

An illegal scrapyard above an aquifer in Pembrokeshire risked contaminating water supplies

Permit breaches cost aggregates firm £46k

Hastings magistrates have fined a Kent company for multiple landfill permit breaches

Gamekeeper loses appeal against conviction for wildlife offences

Derby crown court dismisses defence case and upholds integrity of RSPB officers

Skip firm fined for waste offences

Breaches of waste regulations and the Environmental Protection Act have cost a company over £24,000

DCLG consults on passing EU fines to local councils

The government has set out its intended process for handing on potential EU fines to councils and other public authorities

Comment: Could civil sanctions have an 'unsavoury outcome'?

There is some risk the public might see donations made to green council projects through the civil sanctions regime as bribes

DEFRA plans a jump in recycling targets for packaging waste

After a pause, DEFRA wants to ramp up recycling of aluminium, steel and plastic packaging. Some question how tough the proposed targets are.

Carmakers zoom past European carbon targets

Most EU vehicle carbon performance goals will be met well ahead of schedule, calling into question the industry’s campaign against curbs

Richard Macrory's legal commentary: EU court upholds aviation carbon scheme’s validity

The Court of Justice has rejected a legal challenge by US airlines based on international agreements.

Quick links to key documents and reports

• 25 January 2012

  DECC consultation on the draft Climate Change Regulations 2012 and administration charges

• 25 January 2012

  Environment Agency quick guide on dealing with data points and outliers in monitoring data

• 24 January 2012

  Draft Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore and Offshore Regions) Amendment Order 2012

• 24 January 2012

  Draft Forestry Commissioners (Climate Change Functions) (Scotland) Order 2012