Waste and recycling

We understand the issues that matter to clients in the waste and recycling sector – regulatory compliance, enforcement mitigation, permitting regulations, planning and health & safety. We have a breadth of experience in this sector and an enthusiasm for the subject which enables us to advise clients effectively and with a style that is tailored to each client’s individual needs.

With increased regulation requiring local authorities to deal efficiently with waste and to maximise recycling opportunities there are opportunities and challenges for local authorities, waste collection companies, and landfill operators throughout the country. It’s therefore important to have legal support from a law firm that understands the unique characteristics and regulatory landscape for this market.

Our waste and recycling team has worked on issues ranging from enforcement mitigation through to planning, permitting, and health and safety. We’re experienced in both standard and bespoke environmental permitting work; we’re familiar with the problems faced by energy-from-waste (EfW) projects; and we’re experts at advising on, mitigating and resolving anaerobic digestion (AD) planning problems. In addition to our experience in helping clients put in place the regulatory documentation required for these projects, our specialist construction lawyers can provide advice on all types of waste plant construction contracts and also guide you when things have gone wrong.

We’ve acted on AD, EfW,  biomass and biogas projects at all stages – concept, operation and decommissioning. We understand the complexities of heat supply agreements; and we have advised generators and off-takers on all types of power purchase agreements (PPAs).  Over the last 10 years we’ve been involved in the deployment of more than 500MWp of energy projects; advised landowners, businesses, developers and funders.

Our pragmatic team of energy lawyers draw on this vast experience to deliver innovative solutions to the issues you face.

Our waste and recycling expertise includes:

• Environmental permitting & regulatory advice
• Property – land assembly, acquisition and disposal and title due diligence
• Corporate/ M&A and disposals
• Debt & equity project finance
• Grid & Infrastructure advice
• Energy & battery storage, PPA’s, heat and energy supply
• Planning (contentious and non-contentious)
• Construction contracts, operation and maintenance agreements
• Litigation and Employment issues
• Ofgem accreditation and subsidy compliance

Our waste and recycling experience

• Advising a developer on a dispute relating to a £200m energy-from-waste plant.
• Advising a developer on planning breaches and mitigation advice relating to multiple enforcement actions taken by a local planning authority.
• Advising a landowner on an option and lease for a biomass plant constructed on his land and ensuring that his farming business can have access to the plant for crop drying purposes.