The “Charges Proposal: Cost of Service” consultation sought stakeholder views across a spectrum of regulated activities, with proposals aimed at ensuring cost recovery following recent increases in operational and administrative costs.
It included a notable 14% increase for International Waste Shipment (IWS) charges.
A total of 244 responses were received, with 152 respondents disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with the above-inflation charge increases.
Despite this, the EA confirmed in its response, published on 1 August 2025, that virtually all proposed increases will be implemented in full.
The EA cited fluctuating inflation rates and fiscal pressures on regulatory bodies as primary drivers for the escalated charges.
Changes to the charges
The consultation proposed an increase to regulatory charges covered by the Environment Agency Charging Scheme 2022 and the Waste Charging Scheme 2018. This includes charges relating to:
- Environmental permits
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment
- Waste batteries and accumulators
- Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
- International waste shipments
- Transfrontier shipment of radioactive waste and spent fuel
The charges came into effect from 1 August 2025.**
Responses to the consultation voiced apprehension both with the scale and immediacy of the increases.
While acknowledging the imperative for regulators to recover costs, the RDF Industry Group, representing operators of Refuse-Derived Fuel exports, noted the EA’s decision to enact the 14% hike on the same day the consultation outcome was published as a point of concern for members.
Andy Jones, Chair of the RDF Industry Group, said: “We were surprised to see the new charges take effect immediately on the day the consultation response was released and we urge the EA to reconsider this.
“This gives operators no time to adjust or communicate these additional costs to their customers, which is particularly challenging in a sector where pricing and contracts are often agreed months in advance.”
**These charges will now be implemented from 1 October 2025.
What’s the point of a consultation if the responses are totally ignored? They may as well have saved money on the consultation and just brought them in.