Guidance

Scattering or burying pet ash at a pet cemetery: RPS 310

Published 19 September 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scattering-or-burying-pet-ash-at-a-pet-cemetery-rps-310/scattering-or-burying-pet-ash-at-a-pet-cemetery-rps-310

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you scatter or bury pet ash at a pet cemetery.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS
  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS

In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and 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

1. Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies to scattering or burying pet ash at a pet cemetery which is registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

2. Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • only scatter or bury pet ash at a pet cemetery registered with APHA
  • only bury a maximum of 20kg of ash per square metre
  • keep records for 2 years from the date of the last use of the RPS to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request

You must not bury or scatter pet ash on land used for grazing animals.

3. Things to note

This RPS relates to an activity that the Environment Agency considers is potentially suitable to be an exemption under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

4. When you must check back

The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 1 September 2027.

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.

You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

5. If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must:

6. Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS, email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

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