Guidance

T19: treating edible oil and fat to produce biodiesel

T19 exemption allows small-scale physical and chemical treatment of waste edible oils and fat to produce fuel.

Applies to England

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 2. Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges and charging bands are.

Types of activity you can carry out

This includes collecting chip frying oil from chip shops and treating it to make biodiesel.

Types of activity you cannot carry out

You cannot:

  • accept any other waste oils
  • treat waste where the main purpose is to dispose of it to landfill or incineration

Type of waste you can treat

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
20 01 25 Edible oil and fat

Quantity of waste you can treat

You can:

  • physically treat or store up to 5,000 litres at any one time
  • chemically treat up to 250 litres at any one time
  • store waste for up to three months

Key conditions

The waste must be stored in a container with secondary containment.

What else you need to know

You need to know that:

  • there is a quality protocol for biodiesel
  • unless the biodiesel is produced and supplied under the quality protocol for biodiesel, it is still waste
  • if you produce more than 2,500 litres of biodiesel a year, HM Revenue and Customs allow you to account for excise duty at a lower rate

To register you need Form EX 103 HM Revenue and Customs - Biodiesel.

U5 – using waste-derived biodiesel as fuel.

Register a T19 exemption

You need to register this exemption with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.

If you want to produce more biodiesel than this exemption will allow, you will need an environmental permit.

Definitions

Secondary containment – a bund or any other system for preventing waste that has leaked from its main container from escaping from the place where it is stored or treated.

Updates to this page

Published 28 April 2014
Last updated 1 July 2025 show all updates
  1. Updated with a link to new information about charges and charging bands for waste exemptions.

  2. First published.

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