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Guidance

Using waste codes for sludge materials: RPS 231

Environment Agency regulatory position on the use of additional waste codes to store, treat or spread sewage sludge and septic tank sludge to land.

Updates to this page

From:
Environment Agency
Published:
14 January 2020
Last updated:
9 October 2026
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  1. The review date of this RPS has been extended to 30 September 2029.

  2. Changes to the RPS include adding waste codes and descriptions for septic tank sludges for the S3 and T21 waste exemptions, adding a definition of septic tank sludge added and more precise waste descriptions based on the treatments allowed. Updated to the new RPS template and extended the review date to 30 September 2026.

  3. Revised scope of regulatory position statement 231. Waste codes have been added to standard rules and published. Reference to those rules have therefore been removed from this RPS. Waste code '19 06 06' has been added to SR2010 No 17. The review date for this RPS has been changed to 31 January 2024.

  4. We have extended the review date of this RPS to 31 January 2022.

  5. Under 'Conditions you must comply with', we have corrected the waste code you can use from 10 08 05 to 19 08 05.

  6. First published.

Applies to England

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Using waste codes for sludge materials: RPS 231

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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation or relevant waste exemption when you treat, store or spread sewage sludge and septic tank sludge to land.

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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