Guidance

U12: using mulch

Types of waste and maximum amounts you can use for spreading as mulch to benefit land around trees, bushes or plants, under U12 waste exemption.

Applies to England

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 3. Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges are and how much you’ll pay.

The U12 exemption allows landscapers, farmers and growers to spread mulch using wood chips and plant matter made from waste.

Conditions

You must comply with the exemption conditions. 

The waste you use must:  

  • match the waste codes 
  • be suitable for mulching
  • be stored in a secure location before it is used

You cannot:

  • use more waste than is needed to protect and benefit the soil - using more is classed as disposal
  • store and use more than the maximum amount allowed
  • use waste wood that has been chemically treated

Chemically treated waste wood means it has been preserved, varnished, coated, painted or exposed to chemicals.

Types and amounts of waste you can use

Your waste must fit within the waste code and description.

Waste codes Type of waste
02 01 03
19 12 07
20 02 01
Untreated wood and plant matter

You can store or use up to 100 tonnes of mulch in total in any month.

Check if you need other permits 

You must comply with other rules that apply to your activity. You’ll need an environmental permit or a different exemption if you want to use:   

  • waste that is not listed in this exemption   
  • more waste than is allowed

Waste activity along a linear network 

Linear networks are long stretches that do not have a defined address or gridpoint. They include roads, rivers, canals and railways.   

You can register a U12 exemption if the mulch is produced and used on the same linear network. You cannot import waste mulch from other sites.  

You can use up to 10 tonnes of mulch per linear mile per month.

Register a U12 waste exemption 

You must register with the Environment Agency.

Charities register by phone  

Charities do not have to pay for waste exemptions. If you’re a charity or organisation that works only for charitable purposes, call the Environment Agency to register free of charge.

Linear networks and multiple site registrations 

You’ll need to complete this registration form instead of using the online service.

Registration rules 

You cannot: 

  • have more than one U12 at a site at the same time 
  • register a U12 if it’s already been registered at the site by another business 
  • renew your registration more than one month before the 3-year registration period ends 
  • increase the storage limit by registering a separate storage exemption  
  • store waste that’s not included in the exemption
  • deregister an exemption then register it again within 3 years of the start of the earlier registration 

Waste exemption charges    

Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges are.  

U12 exemption has a band 3 compliance charge.  

There’s a registration charge to register one or more exemptions at a time.  

Farmer charges 

Farmers pay a capped charge for any number of farming exemptions. U12 is included in the list of farming exemptions.

Read waste exemptions guidance in full.

T6: treating waste wood and plant matter

U10: spreading waste to benefit agricultural land

U11: spreading waste on non-agricultural land

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.

Updates to this page

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

  2. Updated to clarify the registration rules and conditions, including information about linear networks.

  3. First published.

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