Topics

Discover how we regulate activities that pollute the air, what authorisations operators need, and how to stay compliant.

Find out how SEPA's aquaculture framework is working to protect the marine environment as well as regulatory and permit information for operators.

Explore what authorisations and registrations your business may need to operate legally and responsibly, including the new Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations. 

The Bathing Waters website provides real-time updates, monitoring data, and safety information on designated bathing waters across Scotland to help the public make informed decisions about water quality and health risks during the bathing season.

What are the regulations for the collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal of all types of waste batteries and who they apply to.

Energy storage is necessary for the development and operation of a smart, flexible, and decarbonised energy system. Find more information on planning, impact assessments, and regulations of BESS.

Best Available Techniques (BAT) are the economically and technically viable techniques which are the best for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the environment.

This page explains the regulations and responsibilities for the capture, transportation, and storage techniques that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  

SEPA charges for the services it provides to help protect Scotland’s environment. Find out more about what activities these charges support, as well as UK charging schemes, and how to make a payment.

Read more about SEPA role in reducing and preventing harm from the manufacturing, importing, marketing, use, storage and management of chemicals and what we are doing to protect biodiversity, the environment, and the direct impacts on health. 

This page outlines our main duties and regulations for operators involved in storing, handling, or distributing large quantities of chemicals or substances of a hazardous nature.

This page provides information on dredging in Scotland and how SEPA regulates the practice. Find video demonstrations on dredging's impact on flooding and guidance on applying for sediment management authorisation.   

The Duty of Care is a legal responsibility that applies to everyone managing waste. Failure to comply with the duties can lead to a conviction or a monetary penalty.

Explore Scotland's renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how SEPA manages the environmental impacts of energy systems. This page also includes information on hydrogen power and energy storage.

ESOS is a energy assessment scheme that is mandatory for all organisations that are regarded as a ‘large undertaking’. This page contains details about the regulations and compliance schemes.

Find out how we enforce environmental laws in Scotland by investigating non-compliance, issuing civil penalties, or accepting voluntary actions to fix harm and prevent future issues, ensuring environmental and public protection.

This page publishes data on activities that SEPA regulates. It includes Scottish pollutant release data and water data returns and explains how to submit data.

Supporting our approach to regulation by providing a common standard to rate an operator’s environmental performance and secure improvements in compliance.

Learn more about the Scottish Government ban prohibiting certain types of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ODS, and the regulations controlling their supply and use.

SEPA is responsible for ensuring that forest developments are designed to consider and benefit the environment. Find resources and information on SEPA's regulatory role in forestry management.

Flytipping is a crime that SEPA is working with partners to respond to, prevent, and pursue offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

Find out how we regulate Scotland's largest industrial complex. This page includes the latest updates from the site, more information on how to report a pollution incident, and the Grangemouth Regulatory Hub.

We regulate activities to protect and improve Scotland’s environment. Find out more about our approach to regulation, as well as environmental liability regulations, operator monitoring, and our policies.

This page explains the role that hydrogen can play to help decarbonise the energy system and make a positive contribution towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions objectives.

Industrial activities can have significant environmental impacts, from emissions to waste generation. Find out which activities are regulated under Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations (EASR), how to apply, and best available techniques (BAT) 

Supporting landowners, planners, and developers in understanding SEPA’s role in biodiversity, land use, and contaminated land.

Environmental issues, such as pollution, odours and flaring, can have a serious impact on our wellbeing. Find out which issues and activities in your area have been reported to SEPA, what action is happening to resolve them and how to report an issue.

If you operate a material facility you must comply with the statutory Code of Practice on Sampling and Reporting at Material Facilities (the Code).  This includes notifying SEPA if you are in scope and complying with the sampling, recording and reporting requirements in the Code.

Get the latest updates from the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Complexe as well as more information on how to report a pollution incident, operator compliance, and how we regulate and take enforcement action.

What are the producer responsibilities for companies that handle, use, or make packaging material and how can you stay regulation compliant

SEPA is legally required to maintain certain information about activities that we regulate and make that information available to the public. These different registers of information are commonly referred to together as the public register.

Rainfall monitoring provides valuable information that helps protect Scotland’s environment and the health and safety of its people.

Understand your responsibilities to do with recycling (including food waste) as a waste producer in Scotland. 

This pages explains the General Binding Rules (GBR) for rural land use activities and provides rules, regulations, and guidance for operators on  best code of practice.

Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT) is liable on the disposal or unauthorised disposal of waste to landfill and is charged by weight.

Find information on registering and maintaining your private sewage treatment system, such as a septic tanks or package treatment plants. This page also provide guidance for grey water disposal, campervan wastewater, and other seasonal management tips for private sewage systems.

SPRI is a public register of annual releases of pollutants to air and water from industrial facilities and information on off-site transfers of waste and waste-water from industrial facilities

This page refers to any waste with hazardous properties and includes guidance on how to get a special waste consignment note (SWCN) and information on clinical and healthcare waste.

Discover sustainable and cost-effective ways to protect your river banks from erosion. This page provides information on available techniques, instructional videos, and interviews with landowners who have carried out such works.

This page covers the rules and regulations for moving waste across borders, notification procedures, and guidance for compliant import and export of waste and green list waste.

What are the key policies and guidance for operators to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional guidance for waste and industrial activities.

If you transport waste, or arrange the transport of waste for others, it’s likely that you will need to register with SEPA

How we regulate the increasing amount of end-of life electronic and electrical items and reduce their environmental impacts.

Scotland’s water environment is one of our most important national resources. This page provides additional guidance and information on how SEPA regulates water activities in order to protect the water environments.

We continuously monitor and record water levels on lochs, rivers, and coastlines throughout Scotland, generating valuable data used by businesses, households, and recreational users.

For operator guidance on activities that may pollute water and what authorisations are required.

Discover the latest water scarcity levels, reports, and advice. Have you noticed dry private water supplies, rivers, or burns? Report water scarcity in your area and help have the best possible understanding of the impact of dry weather