Guidance

Storing and spreading biochar to benefit land: LRWP 61

Updated 20 March 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-risk-waste-positions-landspreading/storing-and-spreading-biochar-to-benefit-land-lrwp-61

This low risk waste position (LRWP) applies if you store and spread biochar (List of Waste code 19 01 18) to benefit land.

If you follow the conditions in this LRWP you can carry out the activity without an environmental permit for a waste operation.

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • only store and spread biochar to benefit land
  • only store and spread biochar produced from the pyrolysis of the following List of Waste codes:
    • 02 01 03 - untreated plant tissue waste from agriculture, horticulture and forestry activities
    • 02 01 07 - untreated wood waste from forestry activities
    • 02 03 04 - vegetable waste unsuitable for consumption or processing
    • 03 01 01 - untreated waste bark and cork
    • 03 01 05 - untreated sawdust, wood shavings and wood cuttings
    • 03 03 01 - untreated waste bark and wood
  • only store up to 10 tonnes of biochar at any one time
  • only spread up to 1 tonne of biochar per hectare over any 12 month period
  • only store biochar for up to 12 months before spreading
  • store the biochar in a secure place
  • store or spread the biochar at least 10 metres from any watercourse and 50 metres from any spring, well or borehole

You must not spread on land that:

  • has been frozen for 12 hours or more in the preceding 24 hours
  • is waterlogged, frozen or covered in snow

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

Enforcement

A LRWP means that the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you provided:

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

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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