Guidance

Collect and treat waste from different sites within the same premises: RPS 224

Published 11 November 2021

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/collect-and-treat-waste-from-different-sites-within-the-same-premises-rps-224/collect-and-treat-waste-from-different-sites-within-the-same-premises-rps-224

‘Collecting waste’ means gathering waste. It includes storing waste and treating it so that it can be transported to an authorised waste management facility.

If you cannot meet the requirements of a waste exemption in schedule 3, part 1 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (as amended), you need an environmental permit for a waste operation if you treat and store waste you collect. This is unless the activity falls within the descriptions in schedule 3, part 5 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (as amended).

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not alter your legal obligations to obtain an environmental permit, to register a waste exemption for a waste operation, or to comply with other relevant legislation. However, if you follow the conditions in this RPS we will not normally take enforcement action if you collect non-hazardous waste produced at different sites within a single identifiable premises, and store and treat it at the same premises.

For educational establishments, this includes waste produced at separate campuses.

1. When this RPS applies

This RPS only applies to:

  • non-hazardous waste
  • waste that is produced, transferred, treated and stored within the same premises, owned or operated by (or on behalf of) a single owner or occupier
  • waste that is produced, transferred, treated and stored at separate campuses owned or operated by (or on behalf of) an educational establishment
  • waste that is collected from within the premises by contractors employed by (or on behalf of) the owner or operator of the premises
  • treating waste to make it easier to transport

Treatments may include:

  • compacting paper and cardboard
  • shredding confidential papers
  • breaking up large items
  • separating recyclables from each other and from mixed waste

This RPS does not apply to any other activities, even if they are under the same legislation. You may still need other permits or licences for other activities you carry out.

2. Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • treat and store the waste in a secure place – you must take all reasonable precautions to prevent waste escaping and make sure members of the public cannot access it
  • only store waste you are collecting for onward transportation
  • store putrescible waste (organic matter that will decompose) in fully enclosed containers to minimise odour and prevent access by vermin and pests
  • store liquid waste in a leak-proof container with secondary containment, such as a bund or any other system that prevents waste escaping

You must not:

  • mix different types of waste together, for example separately collected paper and plastics
  • treat food waste
  • change the chemical or biological nature of the waste

You must not store waste for more than:

  • 1 week for putrescible waste
  • 1 month for non-putrescible waste

You must make sure your activities do 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 odours
  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

You must keep records for 2 years that show you have complied with this RPS. You must make these records available to the Environment Agency on request.

3. 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

4. When to check back

This RPS will be reviewed by October 2024. You will need to check back then to see if it still applies or if you need to apply for a permit.

5. 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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