UPDATE: EA fee hikes to come into effect in October

The EA has clarified the timings for the other fee hikes:

• Annual subsistence charges apply for the full year 1 April 2025 – 31 March 26
• Permitting application charges apply from 1 August
• Carriers, Brokers and Dealers charges apply from 14 August
• WEEE and Batteries regime charges apply for the 2026 compliance year

The changes were outlined in an April 2025 consultation, which 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 consultation also included a notable 14% increase for International Waste Shipment (IWS) charges.

The EA’s response, released on 1 August 2025, confirmed that nearly all proposed increases will be implemented in full.

Implementation confusion

It was initially believed that the hikes were being introduced immediately, causing some apprehension from consultation respondents.

Andy Jones, Chair of the RDF Industry Group, said at the time: “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.”

The RDF Industry Group, representing operators of Refuse-Derived Fuel exports, noted that enacting the 14% hike on the same day the consultation outcome was published as a point of concern for members.