You hear whispers that “one day they’ll force us to do bunds everywhere.” That’s kind of true — but the legal landscape is messy. Let’s clarify where we are now, what’s expected, and where the law might go.
Current state in the UK
There is no unified, singular law that mandates spill containment across all industries — yet. spillcontainment.uk
Instead, multiple regulations apply depending on sector, substance, location: environmental protection laws, pollution control, waste, water protection, workplace safety.
Some particular rules: storage of oil tanks outdoors often requires secondary containment under the Oil Storage Regulations.
Regulatory drivers pushing toward stronger rules
Growing public concern about environmental damage and water quality
EU-derived environmental directives (even post-Brexit)
Regulators increasing inspections and using fines more aggressively
When stricter laws could come
Possibly through an umbrella regulation that mandates minimum secondary containment standards for all liquid handling in industry
More sector-specific rules in high-risk industries (chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage)
Local authorities may start enforcing more stringent requirements in sensitive water catchment areas
What businesses should do today
Don’t wait. Implement spill containment and control best practices now.
Audit all liquid-handling areas and ensure you have proper bunding, spill kits, drainage protection.
Be ready to prove compliance — keep documentation, maintenance logs, training records.
Work with suppliers like Spill Containment UK to choose the right products for your risk levels.
The laws will become stricter. When they do, companies already doing the right thing will just say “show me your compliance documents.” Don’t get caught scrambling.