Permits and licences
The Environment Agency controls emissions or abstractions from processes in England and Wales that have the potential to pollute through various environmental permits.
The term 'permit' covers all types of direct regulation, including licences, consents, registrations, notices and directly applying the legislation.
These permits typically set limits to control the level of pollutants that can be released to air, land or water from a particular site, and may require the site operator to carry out processes in accordance with stated conditions.
Permitted processes can include; complex process industries (chemical or cement works and power stations), sewage treatment works, waste management facilities (landfill sites and incinerators) and industries that use radioactive material.
We review permits periodically to make sure they keep pace with changing circumstances. It is important to make sure that permit conditions remain protective of the environment.
- Dealing with hazardous waste
Find out how to register as a hazardous waste producer, what paperwork you need to complete and how you should deal with your hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations. - Environmental Permitting
Information on the new Environmental Permitting Regulations introduced from 6 April 2008. The regulations will streamline the waste management licensing and pollution control regimes. - EU Emissions Trading Scheme
- Waste protocols project
Waste protocols help identify the point at which waste is fully recovered and can be used by business or industry, without having to comply with waste regulation controls - Discharge consents
How to apply for a water discharge consent, guidance and application forms - Waste Management Licensing and Exemptions (now Environmental Permitting)
Waste Management Licensing was replaced by the Environmental Permitting Regulations on 6 April 2008. - Abstraction Licensing
How to apply for an abstraction licence, details about Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) and the recent changes in licensing. - Landfill Allowance Schemes
We have introduced two schemes to reduce the amount of municipal waste sent to landfill in England and Wales
