What is a waste exemption?
Usually any waste treatment, recovery or disposal operation needs to be authorised by a permit. A waste exemption is a very specific type of low risk waste handling operation that does not require a permit. Most exemptions need to be registered, usually by us.
On the 6 April 2010 new regulations came into force and that completely changed the waste exemption system. Anyone registering a new exempt waste operation on or after the 6 April 2010 has to register under the new waste exemption system.
Waste operations that have already been registered under the old system will transfer across to the new system over a period of 18 months to three-and-a-half years. On or before the transition date is reached if you wish to continue your waste operation you will have to either register a new exemption if one is available or apply for an environmental permit.
Find out when you need to transfer to the new system.
New waste exemption system
Anyone wanting to start a new exempt waste operation will need to register one of the new exemptions or apply for an environmental permit. Find out about the regulations that control waste exemptions and what types of waste operation are listed as exempt.
- Read guidance on new waste exemptions
It is important that you understand what you have to do to comply with any exemptions that you register so please read the guidance before making any registration.
- Register your new waste exemption
If you have already read and understood the guidance on waste exemptions go straight to register an exempt waste operation, water discharge activity or groundwater activity.
Old waste exemption system
You can no longer register any new exemptions under the old system.
- Read guidance on old simple and complex exemptions
If you hold exemptions which were registered before the 6 April 2010, you can use this page to find a link to a description of these exemptions and our guidance. You can also renew any complex exemptions that have a twelve month expiry period and which are due to expire.
Useful Documents
