Notice: HU12 8DS, Kingston Research Limited: environmental permit issued

The Environment Agency publish surrenders that they issue under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

This decision includes the surrender letter, decision document and site condition report evaluation template for:

  • Operator name: Kingston Research Limited
  • Installation name: Saltend Biobutanol Technical Demonstration Plant
  • Permit number: EPR/LP3838KZ/S003



Notice: NG34 9TH, HM Venn & Sons Limited: environmental permit issued

The Environment Agency publish permits that they issue under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

This decision includes the permit and decision document for:

  • Operator name: HM Venn & Sons Limited
  • Installation name: Site 7, Fen Road
  • Permit number: EPR/UP3231YH/A001



Starter for ten

There are ten key questions following Brexit that policymakers for rural Scotland must ask themselves.




Consultation outcome: Air quality: reducing nitrogen dioxide air pollution in 33 local authorities (England)

Updated: Summary of responses added.

We want to know what measures you think will be effective in reducing roadside NO2 levels in 33 local authorities in England. We’re also interested in how these measures should be assessed.

We have directed 33 English local authorities to carry out studies into reducing nitrogen dioxide air pollution in their areas. The studies should identify whether there are any measures they can take to reduce NO2 air pollution in their areas in the shortest time possible.

Your views will help inform the local authority studies, which need to be submitted to the government by 31 July 2018. The government will consider the results, and will publish a supplement to the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations by 5 October 2018.




Scottish recycling, composting and re-use rockets past 60% milestone

date29 May 2018

Scottish recycling, composting and re-use of waste from all sources has rocketed past the 60% milestone for the first time. That was the key finding of Official Statistics published today (29th May 2018) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

  • Scottish recycling, composting and re-use of waste from all sources rockets past 60% for the first time.
  • Food recycling and anaerobic digestion increased 20% from 2015 –
    a 78.1% increase since 2011.
  • Lowest quantity of Scottish waste landfilled since 2011.

In 2016, 6.96 million tonnes (61%) of waste was recycled, composted or prepared for re-use, over half a million tonnes more than in 2015.

What’s more, 2016 also saw more households and businesses recycle food waste as 605,614 tonnes of organic wastes was recycled in composting or anaerobic digestion facilities – an increase of 102,580 tonnes (20.4%) from 2015 statistics and a 78.1% boost since 2011.

Total waste generated in Scotland fell by over half a million tonnes (0.53m tonnes) since 2015, with Scotland achieving the lowest quantity of waste being landfilled since 2011 – a 10.3% decrease from 2015.

Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:

“Recycling is a real Scottish success story and a simple daily step that communities, corner shops or corporates can take to build a more sustainable Scotland.  The scale of the environmental challenge is enormous and we know we live on one planet, but consume the resources of three. 

“The most successful countries in the 21st century will be resource efficient, circular economies, where what once was waste is valued as a resource.  We are committed to helping all regulated businesses do more to support waste prevention and facilitate the use of secondary resources in the economy, helping communities and businesses thrive within the resources of our planet.”

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“I’m pleased to see that the amount of Scottish waste being collected in Scotland has decreased. For the first time we’ve recycled more than 60% of our waste from all sources which shows we are making progress towards our 2025 target of 70% and our work to promote and simplify recycling is paying off.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“These figures show some really positive progress towards a more circular economy – a big increase in recycling and reuse, more food waste being recycled, less waste going to landfill, and especially less climate-harming biodegradable waste. This has been achieved with hard work from local authorities and others, as well as the growing understanding of the importance of recycling and waste reduction in homes and businesses.

“They also show the importance of setting an ambitious and long-term policy direction.  Scotland has led the way by introducing stretching targets and measures to limit and ultimately phase out the use of landfill for the most polluting wastes.  That’s why Scotland is recognised as a world leader on the circular economy and why others are now emulating our approach.”

This is a Policy statement and relates to the Official Statistics published at 9.30 am and available on SEPA’s website.

Data on waste is collected to monitor policy effectiveness, and to support policy development, particularly commitments in the Scottish Government’s Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland.