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Guidance

Environmental permits for ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plants: RPS 33

Environment Agency regulatory position on when you can operate an ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plant without a waste operation or waste installation environmental permit.

Updates to this page

From:
Environment Agency
Published:
27 March 2014
Last updated:
13 April 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added clarification that when users notify the Environment Agency by email before using this RPS, they should put 'RPS 33' in the subject and provide the operator name, site address and treatment capacity (tonnes per day).

  2. RPS 33 has been reviewed and updated. The next review date is 31 December 2027.

  3. Extended this RPS to 31 December 2024. Clarified examples for ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plant. Included the scenario where treated effluent is sent off site for further treatment or disposal.

  4. This regulatory position statement now applies to both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. We have also extended the review date until 30 September 2021.

  5. First published.

Applies to England

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Environmental permits for ‘orphan’ waste effluent treatment plants: RPS 33

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to:

  • have an environmental permit where one is required
  • comply with the conditions of your environmental permit
  • register an activity as exempt where you are required to do so

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with these legal requirements if you meet the requirements in this RPS.

This regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.

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