Guidance

Register your waste exemptions

Register and pay for exemptions to store, treat, use or dispose of waste. Deregister exemptions you no longer need and update details that have changed.

Applies to England

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions 

Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges and charging bands are. 

Read the waste exemptions guidance to check:

  • if you need to register 
  • that you can comply with the conditions 
  • how much you’ll pay  

When you register in the service, you can pay online with a debit or credit card.

You can also pay by bank transfer. 

Exemptions are valid for 3 years from when you register. 

What you need

To register waste exemptions you need to know:  

  • which exemptions you need – see the list of waste exemptions 
  • name, address and contact details of the person or business carrying out the waste activity  
  • company registration number and registered address if you’re a limited company or limited liability partnership
  • address and postcode or grid reference where the waste activity will take place (this may be different to the business address)
  • your payment details – you can pay by credit or debit card, or bank transfer

Deregistering or updating

To deregister an exemption or update your contact details you need: 

  • your waste exemption (WEX) registration number  
  • the email address you used to register the exemption

Register, deregister or update your details

Start

 

Multiple site and linear network registrations  

Use this registration form instead of the digital service if:

  • you want to register the same exemption at 30 or more sites (multiple site registration)
  • your waste activity is along a road, canal, track or other type of linear network

Read: 

Charities and T28 exemptions   

Exemptions are free if you are a charity. To be a charity, all of your organisation’s aims and purposes must be exclusively charitable. Your organisation must also operate for the public benefit. 

Read the Charity Commission’s list and descriptions of charitable purposes to find out if your organisation falls within one of the 13 areas of charitable activity.

It’s free to register a T28 waste exemption. You must be authorised under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Call the Environment Agency to register free by phone. 

Contact

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.

Updates to this page

Published 12 December 2024
Last updated 23 October 2025 show all updates
  1. Updated with links to information about paying for multiple site and linear registrations. Clarified the guidance on charities and charitable purposes.

  2. Updated to clarify that all waste exemptions are exempt from VAT.

  3. Updated with information about waste exemption charges, and organisations that do not have to pay.

  4. Updated to remove the invite and link to a closed consultation. 'Bulk registrations' are now known as 'multiple site registrations' - the page has been amended to reflect this.

  5. First published.

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