Guidance

Storage of waste washroom aerosol air freshener canisters: RPS 63

Updated 29 August 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storing-waste-aerosol-containers-rps-63/storing-waste-aerosol-containers-rps-63

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when washroom services companies and similar hygiene facilities store waste aerosol air freshener canisters (away from the site of production) before recovery elsewhere.

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 the storage of waste washroom aerosol air freshener canisters coded 16 05 054* and 16 05 05 (away from the site of production) by washroom service companies and similar hygiene facilities before recovery elsewhere.

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

You must not exceed:

  • a total storage volume of 1 cubic metre
  • the maximum storage time of 3 months for any one item

Things to note

Aerosol canisters that use flammable propellant are hazardous wastes and the controls appropriate to hazardous wastes will apply. However, for consigning the canisters from the site of production to the first place of collection, you do not need to enter separate consignments for these aerosol canisters on your consignee return if certain rules are followed.  For more information see guidance for hazardous waste: consignee returns.

Waste aerosol canisters should be packaged and carried in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Revisions to the waste exemptions regime in April 2010 removed a previous exemption which covered the storage of waste aerosol canisters.

When you must check back

The Environment Agency intends to withdraw this RPS by 30 April 2025.   

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the withdrawal 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 withdrawal 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 and put RPS 63 in the subject.

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