Guidance

Burning waste in the open after an animal disease outbreak: RPS 251

Published 19 January 2022

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/burning-waste-in-the-open-after-an-animal-disease-outbreak-rps-251/burning-waste-in-the-open-after-an-animal-disease-outbreak-rps-251

This regulatory position statement (RPS) is about when you can burn waste wood, particle board, straw, manure and poultry litter in the open after an animal disease outbreak identified by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

This RPS does not change your legal obligations to:

  • get an environmental permit
  • register a waste exemption for a waste operation
  • comply with other relevant legislation

However, if you follow the conditions in this RPS the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you burn this waste in the open.

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • only burn infected or potentially infected wood, particle board, straw, manure and poultry litter (includes mixed-in poultry feed) that has been identified by APHA for disposal
  • only burn waste wood, particle board, straw, manure and poultry litter that has been disinfected as part of disease control measures required by APHA
  • store waste under cover before you burn it so that it does not get wet
  • get agreement from the Environment Agency by email before you burn any waste

You must not burn:

  • any waste wood and particle board treated with preservative
  • more than 10 tonnes of wood, particle board, straw, manure and poultry litter in 24 hours

You must make sure that burning this waste in the open does not endanger human health or the environment. You must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
  • cause a nuisance through noise or smoke
  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

Enforcement

A RPS means that the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS
  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS
  • your activity does not, and is not likely to, cause environmental pollution or harm human health

When to check back

This RPS will be reviewed by 28 October 2024. You will need to check back then to see if it still applies.

Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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