Policy paper

Reforming the waste exemptions system

Defra and the Welsh government’s approach to tackling abuse of the waste exemptions system.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 15 July 2025

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Reforming the waste exemptions system

HTML

Reforming waste exemptions: annexes

PDF, 548 KB, 53 pages

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Details

This policy paper explains the approach that Defra and the Welsh Government are taking to reform the waste exemptions system.

The plans include:

• prohibiting the use of waste exemptions in specified circumstances
• increased requirements for waste operators to record information about exemptions
• technical changes to waste codes and conditions to increase consistency

Published 15 July 2025