GOV.UK PPG guidance and replacement series for spill control

Many sites still refer to GOV.UK Pollution Prevention Guidance (PPG) notes when planning spill prevention, spill response and environmental compliance. This page explains what PPG was, what replaced it, and how to use the current approach to choose the right spill control measures such as spill kits, bunding, drip trays and drain protection.

Question: What were PPG notes and why do they still matter?

Solution: PPG (Pollution Prevention Guidance) notes were practical guidance documents produced for UK businesses to reduce pollution risk from common activities, including oil storage, refuelling, loading/unloading, drainage management, and incident response. Although many PPG notes are now withdrawn or replaced, the underlying principles remain central to good spill management:

• Prevent spills where possible using engineering controls (bunding, drip trays, safe transfer methods).
• Be prepared to respond quickly using spill kits, absorbents and drain protection.
• Stop pollution from entering surface water drains, watercourses and ground.
• Document procedures, train staff, and review performance after incidents.

These principles support day-to-day operations and help demonstrate due diligence if an environmental incident occurs.

Question: What replaced PPG notes on GOV.UK?

Solution: GOV.UK and the regulators have moved towards newer, topic-specific guidance and regulatory frameworks. In England, the Environment Agency and GOV.UK resources are the primary reference points. In Scotland, SEPA provides its own guidance, and in Wales and Northern Ireland the relevant regulators publish local requirements. Start from GOV.UK and then confirm site-specific expectations with your regulator, permit conditions, and insurer.

Useful starting points include:

• GOV.UK for current environmental guidance and regulatory information.
• Report an environmental incident (UK emergency contact route via GOV.UK).

Question: We have old PPG references in our procedures. What should we do?

Solution: Treat PPG references as legacy signposts, then update your documents to point to current GOV.UK and regulator guidance while keeping the practical controls. A simple, auditable approach is:

1. Identify activities that can cause spills (storage, handling, maintenance, transfer, cleaning, waste, vehicle movements).
2. Map spill pathways (yard drains, interceptors, door thresholds, permeable surfaces, unmade ground, nearby watercourses).
3. Update control measures using current best practice (bunded storage, correctly sized drip trays, closed transfer, isolation valves where appropriate).
4. Refresh spill response plans with clear roles, call-out numbers, and equipment locations.
5. Train and drill so operators can stop a spill and protect drains quickly.
6. Review and improve after near misses and incidents.

Question: What does good spill prevention look like in real workplaces?

Solution: Use a risk-based, practical set of spill control measures matched to the liquids on site. Typical examples include:

• Plant rooms and workshops: drip trays under pumps and filters, absorbent pads at service points, sealed containers for oily waste, and a clearly labelled oil spill kit.
• Warehouses and goods-in: bunded pallets or bunded shelving for chemicals, forklift-safe spill kit placement, and drain covers near loading doors.
• Outdoor yards and refuelling areas: interceptors where required, spill kit stations, drain mats for emergency isolation, and housekeeping to remove oily residues.
• Waste and IBC handling: transfer areas protected with bunding, drip trays for connections, and dedicated absorbents for acids/alkalis where relevant.

For a practical overview of spill sources and liquid types, see Types of spills.

Question: How do we choose the right spill kit if guidance has changed?

Solution: Select spill kits based on the spilled substance, location, likely spill size, and drainage risk, rather than relying on a single historic document reference:

• Oil spill kits for hydrocarbons where you need water-repellent absorbents (common for refuelling, plant, and outdoor yards).
• Chemical spill kits for acids, alkalis and aggressive liquids (often required in labs, manufacturing, or chemical stores).
• General purpose spill kits for coolants, water-based liquids and mixed maintenance spills.

Match capacity to credible scenarios: small leaks at point-of-use vs larger container failure. Place kits close to risk points and near drains to reduce response time. A fast response is often the difference between a clean-up and a reportable pollution incident.

Question: How do bunding and drip trays support compliance?

Solution: Bunding and spill containment help prevent a spill becoming pollution by keeping liquids away from drainage and ground. They also support safe storage and handling, and can demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to prevent environmental harm.

• Bunded pallets and bunded trays for drums and IBCs help contain leaks during storage.
• Drip trays control minor leaks during maintenance and transfer.
• Secondary containment reduces clean-up time and limits exposure risks for staff.

Containment is most effective when combined with inspections, good housekeeping, and clear procedures for deliveries, decanting and waste handling.

Question: What about drain protection and interceptors?

Solution: Drains are a primary pollution pathway. Drain protection measures help you isolate a spill quickly so it can be recovered safely rather than entering surface water systems. Consider:

• Drain covers and drain mats for rapid emergency sealing of yard gullies.
• Spill socks and booms to divert flow away from drains and doorways.
• Drain plans showing which drains discharge to surface water, foul sewer, or interceptors.

If you have interceptors, ensure maintenance is scheduled and documented. A poorly maintained interceptor can reduce effectiveness and increase pollution risk during rainfall or high flow events.

Question: When is a spill likely to be reportable?

Solution: If a spill threatens or reaches a drain, watercourse, or ground, treat it as time-critical and follow your escalation plan. Even small quantities can cause visible pollution or harm, especially oils. Use GOV.UK reporting routes and keep records of actions taken, waste disposal, and any regulator reference numbers.

Reference: GOV.UK - Report an environmental incident.

Question: How can we use this to improve audits, permits and ISO 14001 controls?

Solution: Even where PPG is no longer current, auditors and clients still expect a structured approach to environmental risk control. Strengthen your system by linking:

• Risk assessment (what can spill, where it can go, worst credible outcome).
• Controls (bunding, drip trays, spill kits, drain protection, signage).
• Competence (training, toolbox talks, spill drills).
• Inspection (routine checks of storage, valves, containers, and spill kit contents).
• Incident learning (investigation, corrective actions, restocking and improvements).

This approach keeps your spill prevention and spill response aligned to current expectations while maintaining the practical intent that PPG notes promoted.

Need help matching spill controls to your site?

If you are reviewing legacy PPG-based procedures, start by listing the spill types you may face and the areas most exposed to drains and watercourses. Use our guide to types of spills to support a practical selection of spill kits, absorbents, bunding and drain protection measures.