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Guidance

Treating food waste where food is served and consumed: RPS 229

Environment Agency regulatory position on when you can store and treat food waste from food preparation and consumption at the same premises the food was served and consumed. 

Updates to this page

From:
Environment Agency
Published:
7 July 2020
Last updated:
25 July 2025
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  1. A new condition was added to this RPS, which is "You must present food waste for separate waste collection". A link has been added to the guidance on 'Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England' which you may need to comply with.

  2. The RPS has been updated to the latest version of the template. The definition of premises has been clarified. Permission to remove non food waste before treatment and heat treatment have been added. It has also been expanded to include businesses producing food waste through preparation but not on site consumption.

  3. We have extended the expiry date of this RPS to 30 June 2024.

  4. First published.

Applies to England

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Treating food waste where food is served and consumed: RPS 229

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to get an environmental permit for a waste operation when you store and treat food waste at the same premises where the food was served and consumed.  

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.   

The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.

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