Guidance

Storing and handling waste glass containing other wastes: RPS 292

Updated 4 July 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storing-and-handling-waste-glass-containing-other-wastes-rps-292/storing-and-handling-waste-glass-containing-other-wastes-rps-292

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit where one is required; nor to register an activity as exempt where you are required to do so.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with these legal requirements 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 sites that were notified and have received our agreement to use this RPS before 21 June 2024.

It allows you to accept glass waste that has been processed but not properly sorted and still contains other non-hazardous wastes, such as plastic, paper and metal. You must code this as 19 12 12.

You can continue to handle waste glass containing other non-hazardous wastes (waste code 19 12 12) until the Environment Agency has either:

  • sent your permit variation to you
  • determined your application for a new permit

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • have the Environment Agency’s written agreement to use this RPS

  • store and treat the 19 12 12 waste glass mixed with other non-hazardous wastes on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage

  • remove non-glass waste before using the glass to produce an aggregate

  • have appropriate measures in place to prevent litter, odour, pests and flies

  • 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:

  • continue to use this RPS if your permit application or variation is rejected

Things to note

Glass from waste treatment facilities can be coded as 19 12 05 if:

  • it has been processed and properly sorted
  • any non-glass waste is minimal (an occasional piece and not present throughout the waste)

Glass from waste treatment facilities must be coded 19 12 11* or 19 12 12 if it contains other wastes, such as plastic, paper and metal, in quantities that are more than minimal. (An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.)

When you must check back

The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 30 April 2026.

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:

Contact the Environment Agency

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

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