Government consults on road user charging scheme for HGVs

The government is consulting on a road user charging scheme for HGVs but the measure is not designed to be green. It is also trialling longer articulated lorries

Air pollution alert system for Scotland launched

‘Know and Respond’ will send messages to mobile phones, landlines or email addresses when air quality falls

Tighter air quality index records first 'high'

Residents of the London district of Putney suffered significant levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution on 4 January

EPUK advises on CHP air quality effect

A new guidance document aims to help councils assess the impact of smaller combined heat and power plants on air quality

Agency plans to prune pollution inventory

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

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

Environment features in public health indicators

New yardsticks for measuring public health improvements include noise, fuel poverty, air pollution and sustainability

Permit breaches cost aggregates firm £46k

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

Investigation into incinerator effects on infant health

HPA researchers will examine whether municipal waste incinerators are linked to still birth and low birth weight

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

ECHA proposes 13 chemicals for authorisation

Arguments over the latest group of chemicals slated for authorisation under REACH highlight wider aspects of the European Chemicals Agency’s approach.

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

Comment: Seeing off the behemoths

Not one, but two, gargantuan transport projects lurched forward in January. These may address issues of UK competitiveness and capacity constraint, but does human progress, prosperity and happiness demand that everyone travels ever faster and further?

HS2 rail rolls on despite growing opposition

The government has announced plans to steam ahead with a new high-speed rail line, which will have major environmental consequences

Quick links to key documents and reports

• 3 February 2012

  DEFRA research papers on noise

• 3 February 2012

  EFSA reasoned opinion on the modification of MRLs for oxadixyl in parsley, celery and leek

• 3 February 2012

  EFSA reasoned opinion on the review of maximum residue levels for cyclanilide

• 2 February 2012

  DEFRA provisional UK air quality statistics for 1987-2011