U8 waste exemption: using waste for a specified purpose
The U8 exemption allows you to use waste materials (that do not need treating) for a specific purpose to reduce the use of virgin or non-waste materials.
Applies to England
Types of activity you can carry out
These include using:
- paper pulp or sawdust as animal bedding
- waste paint in community projects
- compost produced for growing mushrooms
- waste wood or stones to construct walls or structures
- waste water treatment sludge or solutions for treating water
Types of activity you cannot carry out
You cannot:
- use waste that needs treating before you can use it
- treat waste under this exemption, see related exemptions
- mix hazardous waste with other hazardous or non-hazardous waste
Types and quantities of waste you can use
The waste codes are listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. You need to make sure your waste fits within the waste code and the description.
| Waste code | Type of waste | Purpose | Quantity limit (at any one time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 030105, 191207 | Untreated wood shavings, woodchip and sawdust, and oversized compost only | Horse manèges | 1,000 tonnes |
| 191204 | Shredded or granulated rubber and end-of life tyres only | Horse manèges | 1,000 tonnes |
| 191201 | Shredded paper and cardboard | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
| 030305, 030310, 030311 | Paper fibre, de-inked paper pulp and de-inked paper sludge from paper manufacturing only | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
| 030105, 191207 | Untreated wood shavings, woodchip and sawdust, and oversized compost only | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
| 160103 | End-of-life tyres | Weight on cover sheeting on farms or as crash barriers | 40 tonnes |
| 150102 | Geotextile bags (flexible intermediate bulk containers) only | Reinforcement in construction | 100 bags |
| 020202 | Shellfish shells (flesh removed) | Ornamental purposes | 50 tonnes |
| 191205 | Crushed glass only | Ornamental purposes | 50 tonnes |
| **200127, 200128, **080111, 080112 | Paints (excluding industrial paint, wood preservatives, aerosol and spray paints, inks, adhesives and resins) | Paint | 1,000 litres |
| 190599 | Compost produced for growing mushrooms only | Growing mushrooms | 1,000 tonnes |
| 170102, 170904 | Stones and bricks in their existing state only | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
| 170201, 191207, 200138 | Non-hazardous wood, including telegraph poles and railway sleepers. Lock gates including balance beams | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
| **110105, **110107 | Ferric chloride and aluminium hydroxide only | Treating municipal waste water effluent | 50 cubic metres |
| **110105, **110107 | Ferric chloride and aluminium hydroxide only | Treating drinking water | 50 cubic metres |
| 190902, 190903, 190906 | Sludge and solution from treating water only | Treating municipal waste water effluent | 50 cubic metres |
| 100201, 100202, 170504, 191209 | Blast furnace slag and stones only | Filter media at waste water treatment works | 50,000 tonnes |
| **170204, **191206, **200137 | Hazardous wooden telegraph poles and railway sleepers, lock gates including balance beams | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
** hazardous waste
Key conditions
You should not use any more waste than you need to or this will be considered as waste disposal and will not be exempt.
The waste must not be treated or need to be treated before being used.
In relation to using aluminium hydroxide, ferric chloride and sludges and solutions from treating water:
- the waste must be stored within secondary containment and in a location with sealed drainage
- no more than 10 tonnes of ferric chloride or aluminium hydroxide may be used per day within the limit of 50 cubic metres
- in relation to waste tyres, within the 40 tonnes that can be used for the specified purpose, you can only store piles up to 10 tonnes, each with a gap as a fire break between each pile
Other things you need to know
Hazardous waste is subject to the requirements of the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
U8 related exemptions
Register a U8 exemption
You need to register this exemption with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.
Last updated 10 November 2017 + show all updates
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Updated the table heading to 'Quantity limit (at any one time)'.
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First published.