Guidance

Choosing the right waste exemptions for your activity

Published 1 July 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-how-to-choose-register-and-pay/choosing-the-right-waste-exemptions-for-your-activity

1. Overview

A waste exemption is a waste management activity that is exempt from needing an environmental permit. There are conditions for each exemption, with restrictions on the type and amount of waste you can deal with.

Most exemptions must be registered with the Environment Agency through the waste exemption service. 

There’s a charge to pay when you register a waste exemption, unless you’re a charity or you’re registering a T28 exemption. 

Check that you have the right exemption for your activity, and consider whether you need an exemption, before you register and pay.

See the list of waste exemption guides.

2. Activities that do not need an exemption

Some waste activities do not need an exemption.

For example, you do not need an exemption to:

  • store your own waste for up to a year
  • cut, chip or shred virgin wood and leave it on the ground or use on your site

Some exemptions relating to temporary storage do not need to be registered or paid for.

Read these 3 guides to find out about waste you can treat and store without an exemption:  

Read T6 waste exemption to find out if you need an exemption for dealing with virgin waste wood and plant matter.  

See the list of waste exemption guides and read the guidance that relates to your waste activity to make sure you register only the exemptions you need.

3. Exemption categories

Waste exemptions are grouped under 4 types of activity:

  • storing waste
  • treating waste
  • using waste
  • disposing of waste 

Each exemption has its own guidance setting out:

  • what activities you can do
  • the conditions you must comply with

4. Exemption conditions 

You must comply with the conditions of each exemption to make sure you do not harm people or the environment.

You must not: 

  • cause risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals 
  • cause a nuisance through noise and odours 
  • disturb the countryside or places of special interest 

See the list of waste exemption guides to make sure you can comply with your exemption conditions.

5. Check if you need other permits

You must comply with other rules that may apply to your activity, for example flood risk management permits or planning permission.  

You will need an environmental permit or a different exemption if, for example, you want to manage:  

  • waste that is not listed in the exemption  
  • more waste than is allowed for each activity  

6. Linear networks waste activity

Some waste exemptions apply to a stretch of road, river, canal or railway, rather than a site with a single postcode. These stretches are known as linear networks.

If your waste activity involves work along a linear network, you may need to register using this registration form instead of the digital service. 

The following exemptions may be needed for waste activity along linear networks: 

An example of a linear network registration would be a U1 exemption to maintain an existing road by filling in potholes along several miles.

Linear network exemptions have conditions set at tonnages per linear mile. The specific conditions are set out in the individual exemption guides.

7. Installations

If your waste activities are part of an installation process, those activities must be included in your installation permit. You must not use waste exemptions as part of an installation.

An installation is a large scale process with a potentially higher risk of causing pollution, for example:

  • landfill site
  • large chicken farm
  • food factory
  • chemical plant
  • power station

Find out about environmental permits for installations.

8. Contact the Environment Agency 

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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