[ News listing ](/insights/insight " News listing") 03 Jul. 2020 ## Green Recovery, COVID-19 News, Resources & Waste, Energy, Water, Air Quality and Environment & Climate The latest updates on the policies affecting your business. **Content** - **Green Recovery** - **COVID-19 News** - **Resources & Waste** - **Energy** - **Water** - **Environment & Climate** - Air Quality - Environmental Compliance - Post-Brexit ### Green Recovery #### Green Recovery to unleash Britain's economic growth post COVID-19 - Calls for a Green Recovery have gained momentum in June. More than 200 UK firms and investors, including Veolia, wrote to the Government calling for the environment to be prioritised as part of any recovery plan. Also in June, city officials, ministers and CEOs, including Veolia’s Antoine Frérot signed a statement by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation committing to making the circular economy central to the recovery effort. - To help lead recovery Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a New Deal for Britain - a £5bn package of capital spending. Johnson promised to build back better, build back greener, build back faster, with focus on building hospitals, schools, housing developments, broadband and infrastructure. - The Scottish Advisory Group on Economic Recovery published its recommendations to ensure transition towards a greener, net-zero and wellbeing economy, and to advise on measures to address different challenges the economy will face as Scotland recovers from COVID-19. #### Chancellor plans a Green Industrial Revolution as result of COVID-19 - Rishi Sunak is planning to launch a Green Industrial Revolution to help to create jobs for people who are made redundant because of the pandemic. #### COVID-19 is a defining moment in the fight against climate change, says the CCC - The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its annual report to Parliament. The Committee says that ministers must seize the opportunity to turn the COVID-19 crisis into a defining moment in the fight against climate change. #### Welsh Parliament consults over the impact of COVID-19 on the environment - The Welsh Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee is undertaking a consultation on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the agriculture and fisheries sectors, food supply, animal welfare, climate change and the environment. - [**Ellen MacArthur Foundation statement**](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/emf-joint-statement.pdf) ### COVID-19 News During the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation which is seriously affecting the UK, waste, water and energy are included within the specified critical sectors required to keep operating during the lockdown. #### Easement of lockdown measures: first steps to kickstart the UK economy - The first step to kickstart the economy was the reopening of car showrooms and outdoor markets selling flowers, books, crafts, and fashion on 1 June. Non-essential retail reopened on 15 June. Hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors are reopening from 4 July. The Government also announced the reduction of the social distancing measure to a 'one-metre-plus’ rule and two households can meet inside if social distancing is observed. - Face coverings are mandatory on public transport in England and Scotland. - New quarantine rules apply on international arrivals. Most people arriving in the UK need to fill in an online form with contact and travel details and the address where they will be staying in quarantine for the subsequent 14 days. Random checks will be carried out by Public Health England. Exceptions apply to certain sectors, including waste management. - In other parts of the UK: the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the Scottish Government's plans on moving to Phase 2 of the route map for easing lockdown restrictions with shops to reopen from 29 June. In Northern Ireland, tourism and the hospitality industry is set to reopen from 3 July #### Latest local authority results of COVID-19 impact on waste services According to the latest waste impacts survey from ADEPT: - The vast majority of waste collection authorities report that residual waste collections are operating as normal - 75% of recycling collections are reported to be operating as normal with minor disruptions - Food waste collections operate as normal with minor disruptions - 80% of garden waste collection services are reported to be operating as normal - Almost all clinical waste collections are reported to be continuing to operate as normal - Commercial collection services to be operating normally with minor disruption ### Resources & Waste #### Defra is still developing its Resources and Waste Strategy proposals The launch of the next round of Resources and Waste Strategy consultations is likely to be put back to later this year. Defra Minister Rebecca Pow recently said that the scope of Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are being further developed and will be presented in second consultations. The Government is reviewing its implementation timeline for the proposed introductions of both schemes. An impact assessment will be published alongside the second consultation which assesses the costs and benefits of a DRS, the costs to business, and covers the wider environmental impacts of implementing a DRS. #### Defra Secretary of State updates Committee on upcoming plans and impacts of COVID-19 Speaking at a one-off session of the cross-party House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Defra’s Secretary of State, George Eustice, said parliamentary business had been delayed by COVID-19 and as a result, the Environment Bill is likely to return after the summer break. He also acknowledged that certain challenges arose due to Covid-19 that meant recycling and waste services being disrupted. He commented that they would be introducing a deposit return scheme on plastic bottles and drinks containers; that EPR is “the key to taking recycling to the next level”; and also said the Environment Bill will provide for the powers to bring greater consistency and clarity to the approach taken by local authorities around collections, including whether or not to charge for garden waste. #### Scottsh DRS: scheme administration form and template are now available Scottish Environment Ministry has published an application form and operational plan template for organisations wanting to operate as a Scheme Administrator for Scotland’s DRS. The Regulations require any organisation wanting to operate as a Scheme Administrator for Scotland’s DRS to apply in writing to Scottish Ministers. A Scheme Administrator is defined as a person that has been approved to submit applications for registration on behalf of producers and to discharge the obligations on behalf of those producers in particular, in relation to managing the collection and financial payments associated with returned containers. #### Plastic straw ban postponed until October 2020, calls to ban oxo-degradable plastics In June, the House of Commons approved legislation to ban the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds in England. October 2020 is the new implementation date. Defra Minister stated that delaying regulations is only a temporary measure in response to COVID-19 in order to reduce the burden on industry and avoid putting additional pressure on local authorities. - [**Defra's Resources and Waste Stragey announcement**](https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-05/55111/) ### Energy #### Government consults on future UK ecodesign and energy labelling policy From January 2021, the UK can set out its products policy measures. The Government has subsequently opened a call for evidence on energy-related products, seeking views on improvements to ecodesign and energy labelling, whether better minimum standards could be set, and what wider policy measures could increase the uptake of energy efficient products. This call for evidence is primarily relevant to manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers or consumers of energy-related products in the domestic and non-domestic sectors, and is open until 4 September. #### Government consults on the future of Combined Heat and Power policy The Government published a call for evidence on the future of Combined Heat and Power policy, seeking views on the current benefits from CHP, the future role of CHP generation in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and supporting green recovery, and how the technology might support the decarbonisation of heat and industry. #### Heat Networks Industry Council plans to boost investment in green heat networks and jobs The Heat Networks Industry Council (HNIC) was officially launched in June at an online event with Energy and Clean Growth Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng MP. This new industry body brings together leaders of the heat networks industry, such as Veolia, to support the Government's vision of a sustainable heat industry. - [**Combined Heat and Power (CHP): the route to 2050 - call for evidence**](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/combined-heat-and-power-chp-the-route-to-2050-call-for-evidence?) ### Water #### Water quality review extended to September 2020 The Environment Agency confirmed that the water quality review has been pushed back by five months because of the coronavirus. Originally due to close in May, the consultation will now close on 26 September 2020. #### Sewage monitoring across the UK to detect new outbreaks of COVID-19 Sewage monitoring is being established across the UK as part of an advance warning system to detect new outbreaks of coronavirus. This work is being coordinated by Defra, the Environment Agency and includes water companies and experts across the UK. Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething confirmed the launch of a pilot programme which will flag early signs of the coronavirus in Welsh communities by monitoring sewage systems. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also begun analysis work on the first samples of wastewater (sewage) in a new trial aimed at helping monitor the spread of coronavirus in Scotland. - [**Waste Quality Review Delay**](https://www.endsreport.com/article/1681624/coronavirus-environment-agency-delays-major-water-quality-resource-review) ### Environment & Climate #### Government unveils the new UK Emissions Trading Scheme from January 2021 The UK Government has unveiled plans for a country-wide emissions trading scheme (ETS) to replace the EU ETS. The scheme would temporarily increase the country's emissions cap by 5%. The UK ETS will apply to energy intensive industries, the power generation sector and aviation – covering activities involving combustion of fuels in installations with a total rated thermal input exceeding 20MW (except in installations for the incineration of hazardous or municipal waste) and sectors like refining, heavy industry and manufacturing. The scheme is expected to run from 2021 to 2030 and will be reviewed twice: an initial review in 2023 and a full review in 2028. The Government said it would be open to considering a link between a UK ETS and the EU ETS. #### Government invests £80m to reduce carbon emissions from industry and homes Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has announced £80m of government funding to be invested in a wide range of programmes, including pioneering heat networks and an innovative new programme to bring down the cost of retrofitting residential properties with the latest energy efficiency technologies. Funds announced include: - £30m towards the first phase of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support energy intensive manufacturers, like car factories and steel plants, to cut their carbon footprint and reduce energy bills - £25m for heat networks - £24m to help develop energy efficient homes by installing green tech and insulation in houses - [**The future of UK carbon pricing**](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-of-uk-carbon-pricing?) ### Air Quality #### Parliamentary inquiry into air quality opens, calls for review of the Clean Air Strategy The House of Commons EFRA Committee has opened a parliamentary inquiry into air quality, looking into how effective and deliverable is the Government’s strategy in tackling poor air quality. Parliamentarians will examine what progress the Government made on reducing air pollution and enforcing legal pollution limits before COVID-19. The inquiry is open until 7 August 2020. #### Parliament APPG urges to cut air pollution to avoid a second COVID-19 peak The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Air Pollution launched its Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection. The report recommends that air pollution is kept at low levels to help avoid a second peak of coronavirus infections and that the UK delivers World Health Organisation Air Quality Standards. It also urges the rollout of clean air zones, currently delayed by the pandemic, and a scrappage scheme for dirty vehicles. **Environmental Compliance** #### Environmental Compliance: updated guidance documents The Environment Agency published guidance on accepting, classifying and disposing of household packaging waste (RPS234) which allows operators of sites that are permitted to accept household waste, to also accept separately collected household packaging waste. The Environment Agency updated the guidance on storing and dewatering street sweeping waste (RSP65) clarifying that this RPS only applies to local authorities, Highways England and their contractors. The review date has been extended until 31 January 2023. The Environment Agency updated the guidance on waste import and export, clarifying the refund amount and explaining the rules that apply to waste import and export now that we have left the EU. **Post-Brexit** #### Committee expresses concerns over clarity of preparations for the end of transition period In a recent report the Commons Public Accounts Committee expressed concerns about the Cabinet Office’s capability to deliver campaign messages on the end of the transition period at the same time as delivering the major public health campaign on COVID-19. The Committee indicated that the Cabinet Office may lack the capacity to successfully deliver two such important campaigns and may also overload the public’s ability to receive and act on the messages. Interestingly, the Confederation of British Industry has also said British firms do not have the resilience to cope with a no-deal Brexit following COVID-19 insofar as any buffers to cope with the additional cost and planning of an exit from the EU without a deal had been exhausted. ####