Manage waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs
This detailed Environment Agency Manage waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs guide sets out how to identify, describe, classify, store, transport and dispose of waste upholstered domestic seating (WUDS), such as sofas, armchairs, recliners, dining chairs, futons and similar items, that may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as decaBDE. It requires such waste to be described as ‘domestic seating waste containing POPs’ and classified under waste code 20 03 07, sorted and stored separately from other waste, and sent for destruction by incineration (not landfill or general recycling) unless it can be shown to be free of POPs. It underpins the new RPS 373 on blending WUDS with other waste, in the News section above, and is a useful reference for anyone handling bulky household waste, HWRCs, or upholstered furniture manufacturing waste.
WEEE evidence and national protocols guidance: vape and e-cigarette batteries
Updated 16th June 2026, this Environment Agency Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) evidence and national protocols guidance clarifies how battery weight must be deducted from vapes and other electronic cigarettes received as WEEE. Because batteries make up a much higher proportion of a vape’s weight than of general small mixed WEEE (SMW), operators must not apply the standard 0.68% SMW battery deduction to single-category streams such as vapes; instead they must calculate the actual battery weight removed, or use a site-specific protocol agreed with their environmental regulator. Vapes and electronic cigarettes are treated as their own category (category 15, covering devices in category 7.1 of Schedule 3 to the WEEE Regulations) for evidence and reporting purposes.
Monitoring stack emissions: techniques and standards for periodic monitoring
This Environment Agency technical guidance, Monitoring stack emissions: techniques and standards for periodic monitoring, sets out the approved monitoring techniques and standards operators must use for periodic stack emissions monitoring under their environmental permits. Recent changes:
- added a method for monitoring brominated flame retardants;
- clarified the use of alternative analyser techniques within standard reference methods;
- removed guidance on determining hexavalent chromium in fine particulate matter;
- deleted the use of mass spectrometry for measuring halogens and halides; and
- added lithium to the scope of metals that can be measured using EN 14385.
Operators relying on this guidance for their monitoring programmes should check the relevant substance sections against their permit conditions.
General binding rules: small sewage discharge to the ground
This Environment Agency General binding rules: small sewage discharge to the ground guide explains when a septic tank or small sewage treatment plant discharging waste water to the ground can operate under the general binding rules rather than needing an environmental permit. The rules that apply depend on when the discharge started: existing discharges from before 1st January 2015 need only meet the core rules (volume limits, correct treatment system, no pollution, and meeting the relevant British Standard); discharges started from 1 January 2015 must also meet additional rules on sewer connection and protected sites; and new discharges started on or after 2nd October 2023 face further restrictions on shared discharge points and proximity to other exempt discharges. If you have off-mains drainage, such as at a rural site, holiday accommodation or a small development, this is a useful reference.
Extended producer responsibility for packaging: templates for sampling and inspection plans
DEFRA and the Environment Agency, working with all four UK regulators, have published mandatory Extended producer responsibility for packaging: templates for sampling and inspection plans that reprocessors and exporters of packaging waste must use to submit a sampling and inspection plan (SIP) as part of registration and, where applied for, accreditation, under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. There are separate templates for reprocessors and exporters, exporters must also submit an overseas reprocessing and interim sites log, and supplementary guidance is available to help complete the templates. If you are registered, or applying to register, as a packaging waste reprocessor or exporter, this is relevant to you.
What to do when cyber attacks disrupt your organisation
This What to do when cyber attacks disrupt your organisation collection from the National Cyber Security Centre, published 28th July 2026, sets out how to recover from a highly disruptive cyber attack, get ready for future incidents, and make them less likely. It is aimed at executive leaders and boards, CISOs, CIOs and CTOs, service owners, and business continuity, resilience and risk professionals. Its practical companion guide, Recovering from a highly disruptive cyber attack, covers immediate activities, recovery and ongoing investigations, and rebuilding. If you are reviewing your incident response or business continuity plans, this is a useful reference.
