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 waste exemptions guidance to check:

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

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 
  • business name, address and contact details 
  • Companies House registration number if you have one
  • address or grid reference for site of waste activity (you need this for every site in a multiple site registration)
  • payment details – you can pay by credit or debit card, or bank transfer

Deregistering or updating

To deregister or update contact details you need: 

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

Register now

Start

 

Linear network registrations 

Go to Register linear network waste exemptions if your waste activity is along a road, river, track or other type of linear network.

Charities and T28 exemptions 

Registration and exemptions are free if you are a charity. To qualify as a charity, your organisation must work exclusively for a charitable purpose. 

Read the Charity Commission’s guidance on charitable purposes.

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 27 January 2026 show all updates
  1. Updated because you can now register exemptions at multiple sites in the online service. Added a link to a new online form and guidance to register exemptions along a linear network.

  2. Updated with links to information about paying for multiple site and linear registrations. Clarified the guidance on charities and charitable purposes.

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

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

  5. 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.

  6. First published.

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