Statutory guidance

SR2008 No 9: storage of asbestos waste

Updated 21 July 2026

Applies to England

The Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016

Maximum annual capacity 3,650 tonnes.

Introductory note

This introductory note does not form a part of these standard rules.

When referred to in an environmental permit, these standard rules will allow the operator to store double bagged or securely wrapped asbestos waste in clearly identified, segregated, sealed, secure, lockable bulk containers at a specified location. No other waste types or storage locations are allowed. No repackaging or treatment is allowed.

No more than 3,650 tonnes of waste can be accepted at the facility in a year.

Waste can be stored for up to 6 months.

End of introductory note

Rules

1. Management

1.1 General management

1. 1.1.1 The operator shall manage and operate the activities:

   1. (a) in accordance with a written management system that identifies and minimises risks of pollution, so far as is reasonably practicable, including those risks arising from operations, maintenance, accidents, incidents, non-conformances, closure and those drawn to the attention of the operator as a result of complaints; and

   2. (b) using sufficient competent persons and resources.

2. 1.1.2 The operator shall manage and operate the activities in accordance with the relevant appropriate measures specified in the following sections of the chemical waste appropriate measures for permitted activities guidance:

   1. (a) Section 2 – General management

   2. (b) Section 3 – Waste pre-acceptance, Acceptance and tracking

   3. (c) Section 4 – Waste storage, segregation and handling

3. 1.1.3 Records demonstrating compliance with rule 1.1.1 shall be maintained.

4. 1.1.4 Any person having duties that are or may be affected by the matters set out in these standard rules or the permit shall have convenient access to a copy of the permit and the rules.

5. 1.1.5 The operator shall comply with the requirements of an approved competence scheme.

1.2 Avoidance, recovery and disposal of wastes produced by the activities

1. 1.2.1 The operator shall take appropriate measures to ensure that:

   1. (a) the waste hierarchy referred to in Article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive is applied to the generation of waste by the activities; and

   2. (b) any waste generated by the activities is treated in accordance with the waste hierarchy referred to in Article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive; and

   3. (c) where disposal is necessary, this is undertaken in a manner which minimises its impact on the environment.

2. 1.2.2 The operator shall review and record at least every four years whether changes to those measures should be made and take any further appropriate measures identified by a review.

2. Operations

2.1 Permitted activities

1. 2.1.1 The operator is only authorised to carry out the activities in rule 2.1: D15: Storage pending any of the operations numbered D1 to D14 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where the waste is produced).

2. 2.1.2 The maximum quantity of waste stored at any one time shall not exceed 10 tonnes.

3. 2.1.3 The total quantity of asbestos waste accepted at the site shall be less than 3,650 tonnes per year.

4. 2.1.4 You shall not remove, transfer or separate asbestos waste from its primary packaging (bags or wrapping).

5. 2.1.5 There shall be no compaction or compression of wastes by mechanical or manual means.

2.2 Waste acceptance

1. 2.2.1 Waste shall only be accepted at the site if all the following apply:

   1. (a) it is of a type and quantity listed in rule 2.1 and 2.2; and

   2. (b) it conforms to the description in the transfer documentation supplied by the producer and holder.

2. 2.2.2 The waste types permitted for storage are:

Waste code	Waste types
17	construction and demolition wastes (including excavated soil from contaminated sites)
17 06	insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials
17 06 01*	insulation materials containing asbestos
17 06 05*	construction materials containing asbestos

1. 2.2.3 Any waste that does not comply with rule 2.2.2 shall be rejected and:

   1. (a) removed from the site; or

   2. (b) moved to a designated quarantine area pending removal.

2. 2.2.4 Records demonstrating compliance with rule 2.2. shall be maintained.

2.3 Operating techniques

1. 2.3.1 Asbestos waste shall:

   1. (a) be double bagged or where necessary, securely wrapped

   2. (b) be kept within clearly identified, segregated, sealed, secure, lockable bulk containers (for example skips) on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage system

   3. (c) not be transferred between different bulk containers

   4. (d) not be stored loose or in bays

   5. (e) not be mixed or stored with a different category of hazardous waste or with other waste, substances or materials

   6. (f) only be stored on site for up to 6 months.

2. 2.3.2 Bulk containers shall be locked when not being loaded and shall not be stacked.

3. 2.3.3 Mechanical equipment, for example loading shovels, chutes and conveyors shall not be used to move asbestos waste.

2.4 The site

1. 2.4.1 The activities shall not extend beyond the site, being the land shown edged in green on the site plan attached to the permit.

2. 2.4.2 The activities shall not be carried out on or immediately adjacent to a European Site, Ramsar site or Site of Special Scientific Interest.

3. Emissions and monitoring

3.1 Emissions to air, land and water

1. 3.1.1 There shall be no point source emissions to water, air or land except:

   1. (a) surface water drainage may be discharged into a sewer subject to a consent issued by the local sewerage undertaker

   2. (b) liquids may be taken off-site in a tanker for disposal or recovery

   3. (c) clean (uncontaminated) surface water from roofs, or from areas of the site that are not being used in connection with storing or handling waste, may be discharged directly to surface waters, or to groundwater by seepage through the soil via a soakaway

   4. (d) clean (uncontaminated) surface water from the waste storage area may only be discharged directly to surface waters, or to groundwater by seepage through the soil via a soakaway

   5. (e) surface water that has come into contact with asbestos waste must first be passed through a filter capable of removing asbestos fibres before being discharged directly to surface waters, or to groundwater by seepage through the soil via a soakaway.

3.2 Emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits

1. 3.2.1 Emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits (excluding odour) shall not cause pollution. The operator shall not be taken to have breached this condition if appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved emissions management plan, have been taken to prevent or where that is not practicable, to minimise, those emissions.

2. 3.2.2 The operator shall:

   1. (a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, an emissions management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits;

   2. (b) implement the approved emissions management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency.

3. 3.2.3 All liquids in containers, whose emission to water or land could cause pollution, shall be provided with secondary containment, unless the operator has used other appropriate measures to prevent or where that is not practicable, to minimise, leakage and spillage from the primary container.

3.3 Odour

1. 3.3.1 Emissions from the activities shall be free from odour at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, as perceived by an authorised officer of the Environment Agency, unless the operator has used appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved odour management plan, to prevent or where that is not practicable to minimise the odour.

2. 3.3.2 The operator shall:

   1. (a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution outside the site due to odour, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, an odour management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from odour;

   2. (b) implement the approved odour management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency.

3.4 Noise and vibration

1. 3.4.1 Emissions from the activities shall be free from noise and vibration at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, as perceived by an authorised officer of the Environment Agency, unless the operator has used appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved noise and vibration management plan to prevent or where that is not practicable to minimise the noise and vibration.

2. 3.4.2 The operator shall:

   1. (a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution outside the site due to noise and vibration, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, a noise and vibration management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from noise and vibration;

   2. (b) implement the approved noise and vibration management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency.

4. Information

4.1 Records

1. 4.1.1 All records required to be made by these standard rules shall:

   1. (a) be legible;

   2. (b) be made as soon as reasonably practicable;

   3. (c) if amended, be amended in such a way that the original and any subsequent amendments remain legible, or are capable of retrieval; and

   4. (d) be retained, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency, for at least 6 years from the date when the records were made, or in the case of the following records until permit surrender:

      1. (i) off-site environmental effects; and

      2. (ii) matters which affect the condition of the land and groundwater;

2. 4.1.2 The operator shall maintain convenient access, in either electronic or hard copy, to the records, plans and management system required to be maintained by this permit.

4.2 Reporting

1. 4.2.1 The operator shall send all reports and notifications required by these standard rules to the Environment Agency using the contact details supplied in writing by the Environment Agency. Where reports and notifications must be made immediately, they may be provided verbally.

2. 4.2.2 Within one month of the end of each quarter, the operator shall submit to the Environment Agency using the form made available for the purpose, the information specified on the form relating to the site and the waste accepted and removed from it during the previous quarter.

4.3 Notifications

1. 4.3.1 In the event:

   1. (a) that the operation of the activities gives rise to an incident or accident which significantly affects or may significantly affect the environment, the operator must immediately:

      1. (i) inform the Environment Agency,

      2. (ii) take the measures necessary to limit the environmental consequences of such an incident or accident, and

      3. (iii) take the measures necessary to prevent further possible incidents or accidents;

   2. (b) of a breach of any permit condition the operator must immediately:

      1. (i) inform the Environment Agency, and

      2. (ii) take the measures necessary to ensure that compliance is restored within the shortest possible time;

   3. (c) of a breach of permit condition which poses an immediate danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate significant adverse effect on the environment, the operator must immediately suspend the operation of the activities or the relevant part of it until compliance with the permit conditions has been restored.

2. 4.3.2 Written confirmation of actual or potential pollution incidents and breaches of rules shall be submitted to the Environment Agency within 24 hours.

3. 4.3.3 Following the detection of an event listed in 4.3.1, the operator shall review and where necessary revise the management system and implement any changes as necessary to minimise the risk of reoccurrence of the issue.

4. 4.3.4 The Environment Agency shall be notified within 14 days of the occurrence of the following matters, except where such disclosure is prohibited by Stock Exchange rules:

   1. (a) where the operator is a registered company:

      1. (i) any change in the operator’s trading name, registered name or registered office address; and

      2. (ii) any steps taken with a view to the operator going into administration, entering into a company voluntary arrangement or being wound up.

   2. (b) where the operator is a corporate body other than a registered company:

      1. (i) any change in the operator’s name or address; and

      2. (ii) any steps taken with a view to the dissolution of the operator.

   3. (c) in any other case:

      1. (i) the death of any of the named operators (where the operator consists of more than one named individual);

      2. (ii) any change in the operator’s name(s) or address(es); and

      3. (iii) any steps taken with a view to the operator, or any one of them, going into bankruptcy, entering into a composition or arrangement with creditors, or, in the case of them being in a partnership, dissolving the partnership.

4.4 Interpretation

1. 4.4.1 In these standard rules the expressions listed below shall have the meaning given:

   1. ‘accident’ means an accident that may result in pollution.

   2. ‘Air Quality Management Area’ means an air quality management area within the meaning of the Environment Act 1995 which has been designated due to concerns about particulate matter in the form of PM10.

   3. ‘approved competence scheme’ means a government approved scheme which demonstrates an appropriate level of technical competence and complies with the conditions of their permit.

   4. ‘authorised officer’ means any person authorised by the Environment Agency under section 108(1) of The Environment Act 1995 to exercise, in accordance with the terms of any such authorisation, any power specified in section 108(4) of that Act.

   5. ‘disposal’ means any of the operations provided for in Annex IIA to Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on Waste.

   6. ‘emissions management plan’ (EMP) means a plan which is informed by a risk assessment and which sets out site-specific control measures to prevent and minimise the risk and impact of pollution due to emissions from the site. Different EMPs should be produced for different pollutants, for example, odour, noise and vibration, dust and particulates, mud, litter. These EMPs form part of the site’s management system.

   7. ‘emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits’ means emissions of substances to air, water or land from the activities, either from the emission points specified in these standard rules or from other localised or diffuse sources, which are not controlled by an emission or background concentration limit.

   8. ‘emissions to land’ includes emissions to groundwater.

   9. ‘EP Regulations’ means The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations SI 2010 No.675 and words and expressions used in this permit which are also used in the Regulations have the same meanings as in those Regulations. ‘European site’ means a European site within the meaning of Regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and refers to a candidate or Special Area of Conservation and proposed or Special Protection Area in England and Wales.

   10. ‘groundwater’ means all water, which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil.

   11. ‘impermeable surface’ means a surface or pavement constructed and maintained to a standard sufficient to prevent the transmission of liquids through and beyond the pavement surface and should be read in conjunction with the term ‘sealed drainage system’.

   12. ‘List of Wastes’ means the list of wastes established by Commission Decision 2000/532/EC replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, as amended from time to time (including by decision 2014/955/EU).

   13. ‘pollution’ means emissions as a result of human activity which may:

       1. (a) be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment

       2. (b) cause offence to a human sense

       3. (c) result in damage to material property, or

       4. (d) impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment.

   14. ‘quarter’ means a calendar year quarter commencing on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October.

   15. ‘R’ means a recovery operation provided for in Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste.

   16. ‘recovery’ means any of the operations provided for in Annex IIB to Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on Waste.

   17. ‘sealed drainage system’ in relation to an impermeable surface means a drainage system with impermeable components which does not leak and which will ensure that:

       1. (a) no liquid will run off the surface otherwise than via the system

       2. (b) except where they may lawfully be discharged to foul sewer, all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump.

   18. ‘secure’ means that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the waste cannot escape and that members of the public are unable to gain access to the waste.

   19. ‘SSSI’ means Site of Special Scientific Interest within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000).

   20. ‘transferred between different bulk containers’ means moving waste between for example, skips. Vans would not be classed as a bulk container and therefore movements of bagged asbestos waste from vans to bulk containers for example skips on site would continue to be acceptable. Moving bagged asbestos waste from wheelie bins by hand and placing into bulk containers would also be acceptable.

   21. ‘waste code’ means the six digit code referable to a type of waste in accordance with the List of Wastes and in relation to hazardous waste, includes the asterisk.

   22. ‘year’ means calendar year ending 31 December.

End of standard rules