Guidance

Storing and drying waste wood for burning in a Part B co-incinerator: RPS 213

Updated 6 June 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storing-and-drying-waste-wood-before-burning-in-a-part-b-co-incinerator-rps-213/storing-and-drying-waste-wood-before-burning-in-a-part-b-co-incinerator-rps-213

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit or waste exemption when you store and dry waste wood before you burn it in a co-incinerator which is regulated by the local authority under a Part B permit.  

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 

Activity this RPS applies to 

This RPS applies to: 

  • operators who hold a Part B permit issued by their local authority for the burning of waste wood in a co-incinerator 

  • the storage and drying of the waste wood which is then used as fuel in that co-incinerator  

Conditions you must comply with 

You must:  

  • hold a Part B permit issued by your local authority for the burning of waste wood 

  • only store waste wood if it is visibly clean and chemically untreated  

  • only store and dry waste wood that is to be used in the Part B co-incinerator 

  • only store and dry the amount of waste wood necessary to operate the Part B co-incinerator 

  • store the waste wood securely and in piles no more than 4 metres high 

  • keep records for 2 years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request 

When you must check back 

The Environment Agency will review this RPS by 1 May 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. 

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn. 

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 These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn. 

If you cannot comply with this RPS 

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must stop the activity to which this RPS relates and must tell the Environment Agency immediately.  

Contact the Environment Agency 

If you have any questions about this RPS email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk and include RPS 213 in the subject.

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