Storing waste: waste exemptions
List of exemptions for temporarily storing waste at the place where it was produced or elsewhere.
A waste exemption is a waste operation that is exempt from needing an environmental permit. Each exemption has specific limits and conditions you need to comply with.
It’s free to register waste exemptions with the Environment Agency and registration lasts for 3 years. You can renew after that time if you still need the exemption.
You may need to hold other permits or permissions in addition to your exemption. For example, you may need planning permission for your waste operation, or a water discharge permit.
Exemptions you do not need to register
These are known as non-waste framework directive exemptions.
If you store your own waste temporarily, or operate a waste collection point, you may not need to register an exemption. However, you must still comply with certain limits and conditions.
Storing waste exemptions S1, S2, S3
You need to register these storage exemptions with the Environment Agency.
You should not register S1 or S2 exemptions for activities which are covered by the non-waste framework directive exemptions. For example, like storing your own waste at the place where it was produced.
The exemptions for using, treating and disposing of waste all include the storage capacity for that waste. You cannot increase the storage capacity by registering an additional storage exemption at the same place. If you do, the storage exemption will be invalid.
Last updated 15 November 2019 + show all updates
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Provided clarity on the storing waste exemptions that do not need registering.
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Minor changes to the page title and description to improve search results. This will help customers find relevant exemption guidance.
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First published.