S2 waste exemption: storing waste in a secure place
The S2 waste exemption allows you to store specific waste at a secure intermediate site, separate to where the waste was produced, before transportation to another site for recovery.
Applies to England
Waste exemptions are changing and this will affect anyone who carries out a waste exemption activity. Defra has published its consultation supplementary response document and associated annexes explaining these changes. It sets out which exemptions will be withdrawn or restricted. This is one of the waste exemptions that will be affected. We expect changes to the exemptions will start to roll out during 2024 and continue into 2025 but timescales have not been finalised yet.
Types of activity you can carry out
These include:
- storing construction and demolition waste that can be reused without treatment, at an intermediate site before it is moved to another place to be reused
- storing olive pulp and marble chips at a port before it is moved to another place to be recovered
Types of activity you cannot carry out
You cannot:
- treat waste under this exemption see related exemptions
- store waste destined to be disposed of see related permits
- store mixed waste
- mix hazardous with non-hazardous waste.
- register this exemption to increase the storage capacity at the place where another treatment exemption such as T1, T4, T11 or a U activity is carried out
Types of waste you can store
The waste codes are those listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. You need to make sure your waste fits within the relevant waste code and description.
Waste code | Type of waste | Storage limit (at any one time) | Period (months) |
---|---|---|---|
161002 | aqueous paint related waste only | 1,000 litres | 6 |
160601, 160602 *, 160603 *, 160604, 160605, 200133, 200134 | batteries | 10 tonnes | 6 |
150104, 200140 | cans and foil only | 500 tonnes | 12 |
140601* | CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs | 18 tonnes | 6 |
170101, 170102, 170103, 170107, 170202, 170203, 170401 to 170407, 170504, 170604, 170802 | construction and demolition waste (non hazardous) capable of being used in existing state only | 100 tonnes | 12 |
200125 | edible oil and fat only | 5,000 tonnes | 12 |
100207* | electric arc furnace dust only | 2,500 tonnes | 3 |
020104 | farm plastics (non packaging only) | 500 tonnes | 12 |
070213, 150101, 150102, 150105, 200139 | Food and drink cartons | 500 tonnes | 12 |
101112, 150107, 160120, 170202, 191205, 200102 | glass | 5,000 tonnes | 12 |
020102 | mammalian protein only | 60,000 tonnes | 12 |
020202 | mammalian tallow only | 45,000 tonnes | 12 |
200307 | mattresses only | 5 tonnes | 3 |
010408, 191209 | marble chips only | 5,000 tonnes | 12 |
020304 | olive pulp/pellet only | 5,000 tonnes | 3 |
080111, 080112, 200127, 200128 | paints (excluding specialist and industrial paints, wood preservatives, aerosol and spray paints, inks, adhesives and resins) pending reuse as paints only | 10,000 litres | 6 |
030307, 030308, 150101, 191201, 200101 | paper and cardboard (excluding food and drink cartons) only | 15,000 tonnes | 12 |
090107, 090108 | photographic films and papers | 50 tonnes | 12 |
070213, 120105, 150102, 160119, 191204, 200139 | plastic | 500 tonnes | 12 |
100101 | poultry litter ash only | 3,000 tonnes | 12 |
080318, 150102, 160216, 200139 | printer cartridges only | 5,000 units | 6 |
170301*, 170302, 170504 | road planings, waste road chippings, road sub-base only | 500 tonnes | 12 |
020110, 160117, 160118, 170401, 170402, 170403, 170404, 170405, 170406, 170407, 170411, 191202, 191203 | scrap metal | 15,000 tonnes | 6 |
090110, 090111*, 090112 | single use cameras | 400 cubic metres | 6 |
020401, 020399 | soils from cleaning fruit and veg only | 100 tonnes | 6 |
100316, 100405*, 100504, 100511, 100604, 100811, 100899 | solder metal, skimmings, ashes and residues | 100 tonnes | 3 |
140602, 140603, 200113* | solvents and solvent mixtures | 5 cubic metres | 6 |
100101, 100102, 100105, 100115 | synthetic gypsum and pulverised fuel ash only | 2,500 tonnes | 3 |
040222, 150109, 191208, 200110, 200111 | textiles and clothes | 1,000 tonnes | 12 |
160103, 191204 | tyres, tyre chip and crumb | 40 tonnes | 3 |
110113, 120301, 160708* | waste cleaning solution containing 2% sodium metasilicate and 1 to 2% waste oil only | 3 tonnes | 3 |
160211, 160213, 160214, 160216, 200121, 200123, 200135*, 200136 | WEEE | 400 cubic metres | 6 |
030301, 150102, 150103, 200138 | wine bottle corks only | 500 tonnes | 12 |
030105, 170201, 170204, 191206, 191207, 200137*, 200138 | Wood, including telegraph poles and railway sleepers (hazardous and non hazardous) | 100 tonnes | 12 |
*These are hazardous waste
Conditions
The conditions are:
- each type of waste must be stored separately
- the storage must take place at a secure place
- the storage of the waste is pending its recovery elsewhere
- each waste shall not be stored for longer than the specified time period
The additional specific conditions apply to some specified types of waste.
Aqueous paint related waste only
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Batteries:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the storage place has sealed drainage
CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Edible oil and fat only:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Electric arc furnace dust only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
- the waste must arrive at the storage place in bags and must be stored there in bags or in drums
Farm plastics (non-packaging):
- the waste is stored indoors
Glass:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
Mammalian protein only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Mammalian tallow only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Mattresses only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Olive pulp and pellet:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Paints (excluding specialist and industrial paints, wood preservatives, aerosol and spray paints, inks, adhesives and resins) pending reuse as paints:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Paper and cardboard (excluding food and drink cartons):
- the waste is stored in a baled form, in a container or indoors
- within the quantity limit specified and despite this additional specific condition, up to 1,000 tonnes may be stored outdoors as long as it is stored in an enclosure designed and maintained to prevent litter escaping
Photographic films and papers:
- the waste is stored in a baled form, in a container or indoors
Poultry litter ash only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Printer cartridges only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Scrap metal:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Solder metal, skimmings, ashes and residues:
- the waste is stored in bags or in drums
Solvents and solvent mixtures:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Synthetic gypsum and pulverized fuel ash only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
- the waste must arrive at the storage place in bags and must be stored there in bags or in drums
Tyres, tyre chip and crumb:
- the total quantity of waste stored together does not exceed 10 tonnes; this is to reduce the risk of fire spreading
Waste cleaning solution containing 2% sodium metasilicate and 1% to 2% waste oil only:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
WEEE:
- you must comply with the requirements in paragraph 1 of Annex III to the WEEE Directive; this means storage on an impermeable surface and with weatherproof covering where you are storing WEEE containing hazardous materials or fluids and where storing whole appliances that are to be reused
What else you need to know
Hazardous waste is subject to the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Related exemptions
T1: Cleaning, washing, spraying or coating relevant waste
T4: Preparatory treatments, such as baling, sorting, shredding
S1: Storing waste in secure containers
Related permits
You will need an environmental permit if you want to store:
- waste at an intermediate site for treatment or use not covered in related exemptions or under a permit for recovery
- mixed waste at an intermediate site for treatment
- waste prior to disposal
Find out more about environmental permits for waste.
Register a S2 exemption
You need to register this exemption with us if you meet the requirements.
Last updated 9 February 2023 + show all updates
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We have added information about changes to this waste exemption that are likely to happen during 2024 to 2025.
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First published.