Guidance

Storing and spreading gypsum waste to benefit land: LRWP 59

Updated 20 March 2024

Applies to England

This low risk waste position (LRWP) applies if you store and spread the following types of waste gypsum to benefit land:

  • flue gas desulphurisation gypsum (solid) (List of Waste code 10 01 05)
  • recycled certified gypsum from plasterboard (List of Waste code 19 12 12)

Certified gypsum from plasterboard is gypsum that is certified by the manufacturer or supplier to have been produced in accordance with PAS 109.

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:

  • store waste gypsum in a secure place
  • store or spread waste gypsum at least 10 metres from any watercourse and 50 metres from any spring, well or borehole
  • only spread flue gas desulphurisation gypsum (solid) and recycled certified gypsum from plasterboard to benefit land
  • only store up to 30 tonnes of waste gypsum at any one time
  • only spread up to 1 tonne of waste gypsum per hectare over any 12 month period
  • only store waste gypsum for up to 12 months before spreading

You must not:

  • spread waste gypsum on land that has been frozen for 12 hours or more in the preceding 24 hours
  • spread waste gypsum on land that 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.