Treatment and disposal of invasive non-native plants: RPS 178
Environment Agency regulatory position on the treatment and disposal of invasive non-native plants and associated soil and materials.
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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to:
- have an environmental permit where one is required
- register an activity as exempt where an appropriate exemption is available
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.
Updates to this page
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We have updated this RPS to the latest template. This RPS will be reviewed by 12 August 2028.
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Updated to reflect that this regulatory position does not change your legal obligations when you treat or dispose of invasive non-native plant material and the soil that they are growing in. However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if the requirements of the RPS are complied with. Extended the review date to 12 August 2025.
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We've updated the text in section 1.3 Bury Japanese knotweed: You can dispose of the dead brown canes of Japanese knotweed by composting on-site, as long as they’re cut (not pulled) a minimum of 10cm above the crown.
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New paragraph in section 1.3: You can dispose of the dead brown canes of Japanese knotweed at green waste disposal facilities or by composting on-site, as long as they’re cut (not pulled) a minimum of 10cm above the crown. New section on reusing sieved or screened soils (section 1.4). Review date extended until 30 June 2021.
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First published.