Guidance

Waste codes you can accept instead of those ending in 99: RPS 241

Published 22 May 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-codes-you-can-accept-instead-of-those-ending-in-99-rps-241/waste-codes-you-can-accept-instead-of-those-ending-in-99-rps-241

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation or a registered waste exemption and the waste codes you are allowed to accept.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if 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

1. Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies to environmental permits and waste exemptions which have waste codes ending in 99. It allows you to accept the same wastes but with different and more accurate waste coding, as set out in appendix 1.   

This RPS also applies to holders of bespoke permits that may have ‘99’ wastes codes listed.

2. Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • comply with the requirements in your specified environmental permit or waste exemption
  • only accept wastes with codes set out in appendix 1, as a replacement to waste codes ending in 99
  • 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

3. Things to note

The Environment Agency is replacing waste codes ending in 99 with the 6-digit codes and descriptions listed in this RPS. Once complete, this RPS will no longer be required.

4. When you must check back

The Environment Agency will review this RPS by 31 May 2028.

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.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

5. If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must:

  • stop the activity to which this RPS relates
  • tell the Environment Agency immediately by emailing enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk and put ‘Waste codes you can accept instead of those ending in 99: RPS 241’ in the subject

6. Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk and put ‘Waste codes you can accept instead of those ending in 99: RPS 241’ in the subject.

Appendix 1: List of waste codes you can accept instead of waste codes ending in 99

02 01 99: milk from agricultural premises only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: milk from agricultural premises other than those mentioned in 16 10 01.

The waste must originate from the Waste classification technical guidance (WM3) 02 01 sub-chapter: wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing.

02 01 99: untreated wash water from cleaning fruit and vegetables on farms only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: untreated wash water from cleaning fruit and vegetables on farms other than those mentioned in 16 10 01.

The waste must originate from the WM3 02 01 sub-chapter: wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing.

02 01 99: slurry and manure and soiled bedding from any premises except abattoirs, soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue, and soiled bedding desiccants only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 01 06: slurry, manure and soiled bedding from any premises except abattoirs, soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue, and soiled bedding desiccants only.

02 01 99: fully biodegradable animal bedding

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 01 06: fully biodegradable animal bedding.

02 02 99: slurry, manure and soiled bedding from abattoirs, including soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue and soiled bedding desiccants only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 01 06: slurry, manure and soiled bedding from abattoirs, including soiled biodegradable bedding not made from plant tissue and soiled bedding desiccants.

02 02 99: wash waters from animal by-product handling and processing plants that meet the wastewater treatment requirements in the ABPR

Found in:

You can accept these waste codes and descriptions:

  • 02 02 01: sludges from animal by-product handling and processing plants that meet the wastewater treatment requirements in the animal by-products regulations
  • 16 10 02: wash waters from animal by-product handling and processing plants that meet the wastewater treatment requirements in the animal by-products regulations other than those mentioned in 16 10 01

The 16 10 02 waste must originate from the WM3 02 02 sub-chapter: wastes from the preparation and processing of meat, fish and other foods of animal origin.

02 02 99: processed animal by-product material from rendering plants

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 02 02: processed animal by-product material from rendering plants.

02 02 99: catering waste

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 02 03: materials unfit for consumption from the place of production - catering waste.

02 03 99: soils from cleaning and washing fruit and vegetables only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 03 01 soils and sludges from cleaning and washing fruit and vegetables.

02 03 99: soils from cleaning fruit and vegetables only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 03 01: soils and sludges from cleaning and washing fruit and vegetables

02 03 99: untreated wash waters from cleaning fruit and vegetables on farms only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: untreated wash water from cleaning fruit and vegetables on farms other than those mentioned in 16 10 01.

The waste must originate from the WM3 02 03 sub-chapter: wastes from fruit, vegetables, cereals, edible oils, cocoa, coffee, tea and tobacco preparation and processing; conserve production; yeast and yeast extract production, molasses preparation and fermentation.

02 03 99: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from the processing of such materials including those from secondary food processing or the cook-chill sector

Found in:

You can accept these waste codes and descriptions:

  • 02 02 03: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from processing materials, including those from secondary food processing or the cook-chill sector
  • 02 03 04: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from processing materials, including those from secondary food processing or the cook-chill sector

02 04 99:  biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified derived from the processing of sugar

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 03 04: biodegradable wastes from processing sugar.

02 05 99: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from the processing of dairy products

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 05 01: biodegradable wastes from processing dairy products.

02 06 99: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from the processing of materials used in baking and confectionary

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 06 01: biodegradable wastes from processing materials used in baking and confectionary.

02 07 99: biodegradable wastes not otherwise specified from the processing of the raw materials used in the production of such beverages only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 02 07 04: biodegradable materials unsuitable for consumption or processing. 

10 13 99: gypsum only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 16 03 04: gypsum from the manufacture of cement, lime and plaster other than those mentioned in 16 03 03.

19 05 99: compost derived from non-source segregated biodegradable waste

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 19 05 03: compost-like output from non-source segregated biodegradable waste other than those mentioned in 16 10 01.

19 05 99: liquor and digestate from aerobic treatment of source segregated biodegradable waste only

Found in:

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02 Liquor and digestate from aerobic treatment of source segregated biodegradable waste.

The waste must originate from the WM3 19 05 sub-chapter: wastes from the aerobic treatment of waste.

19 05 99: compost produced in line with a treatment described in exemption T23 or T26 only

Found in: T5 waste exemption: screening and blending waste.

You can accept the waste code and description 19 05 03: compost produced in line with a treatment described in exemption T23 or T26.

19 08 99: effluent only

Found in: U7 waste exemption: using effluent to clean a highway gravel bed.

You can accept this waste code and description 16 10 02: final effluent from water treatment works or wastewater treatment plant.

The waste must originate from the WM3 19 08 sub-chapter: wastes from wastewater treatment plants not otherwise specified.

19 08 99: centrate liquor only

Found in: T21 waste exemption: recover waste at a wastewater treatment works.

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: centrate liquor.

The waste must originate from the WM3 19 08 sub-chapter: wastes from wastewater treatment plants not otherwise specified.

19 09 99: wastewater and borehole flushings only

Found in: T20 waste exemption: treating waste at a water treatment works.

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: wastewater and borehole flushings.

The waste must originate from the WM3 19 09 sub-chapter: wastes from the preparation of water intended for human consumption or water for industrial use.

20 01 99: non liquid foods unsuitable for consumption or processing

Found in: T13 waste exemption: treating waste food.

You can accept the waste code and description 20 01 08: non liquid foods unsuitable for consumption or processing, excluding foods covered by the animal by-products regulations.

20 03 99: cesspool waste and other sewage sludge

Found in: T21 waste exemption: recover waste at a wastewater treatment works.

You can accept these waste codes and descriptions:

  • 16 10 02: cesspool waste
  • 19 08 05: sewage sludge

Where there is a mixed load of cesspool and sewage sludge you must list both on your waste duty of care documentation.

The 16 10 02 waste must originate from the WM3 20 03 sub-chapter: other municipal wastes.

20 03 99: wastes from railway sanitary conveniences only

Found in: D2 waste exemption: depositing waste from a railway sanitary convenience.

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: wastes from railway sanitary conveniences.

The waste must originate from the WM3 20 03 sub-chapter: other municipal wastes.

20 03 99: waste from portable sanitary conveniences only

Found in: D3 waste exemption: depositing waste from a portable sanitary convenience.

You can accept the waste code and description 16 10 02: waste from portable sanitary conveniences.

The waste must originate from the WM3 20 03 sub-chapter: other municipal wastes.

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