U8: using waste for a specific purpose
U8 exemption allows you to recycle waste that does not need treating before being used. This helps reduce the use of virgin materials.
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.
Conditions
The waste must not be treated or need any treatment before you use it.
You must use the waste type only for the purpose specified.
You cannot:
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use more waste than you need for the purpose
-
mix hazardous waste with other hazardous or non-hazardous waste
-
treat waste - see ‘Related exemptions’
Using more than you need is regarded as disposal of waste, and is not exempt.
When you do not need a U8 exemption
You do not need a U8 if you’re using virgin wood offcuts, sawdust, or shavings that:
- are for specific use as animal bedding or a surface for training horses
- are a by-product that has come directly from the sawmill or other producer
Read Check if your material is waste to find out if your material is regarded as a by-product intended for use, or waste.
Types and amounts of waste, and what you can use it for
Your waste must fit within the waste codes and descriptions in the tables.
Table 1: Waste used for animal bedding and exercise surfaces
Virgin wood offcuts, sawdust, or shavings that have come directly from the producer do not need an exemption.
| Waste code | Type of waste | Purpose | Maximum limit at any one time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 01 05 19 12 07 |
Untreated wood shavings, woodchip and sawdust, oversized compost | Horse training surface | 1,000 tonnes |
| 19 12 04 | Shredded or granulated rubber and end-of life tyres | Horse training surface | 1,000 tonnes |
| 19 12 01 | Shredded paper and cardboard | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
| 03 03 05 03 03 10 03 03 11 |
Paper fibre, de-inked paper pulp and de-inked paper sludge from paper manufacturing | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
| 03 01 05 19 12 07 |
Untreated wood shavings, woodchip and sawdust, oversized compost | Animal bedding | 100 tonnes |
Table 2: Waste used for treating water and wastewater
If using aluminium hydroxide, ferric chloride, and sludges and solutions, you must:
-
store within secondary containment and in a location with sealed drainage
-
use no more than 10 tonnes of ferric chloride or aluminium hydroxide per day within 50 cubic metres
(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous. Read Hazardous waste regulations.
| Waste code | Type of waste | Purpose | Maximum limit at any one time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 01 05* 11 01 07* |
Ferric chloride and aluminium hydroxide | Treating municipal waste water effluent | 50 cubic metres |
| 11 01 05* 11 01 07* |
Ferric chloride and aluminium hydroxide | Treating drinking water | 50 cubic metres |
| 19 09 02 19 09 03 19 09 06 |
Sludge and solution from treating water | Treating municipal waste water effluent | 50 cubic metres |
| 10 02 01 10 02 02 17 05 04 19 12 09 |
Blast furnace slag and stones | Filter media at waste water treatment works | 50,000 tonnes |
Table 3: Construction purposes
(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous. Read Hazardous waste regulations.
| Waste code | Type of waste | Purpose | Maximum limit at any one time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 01 02 | Geotextile bags (flexible intermediate bulk containers) | Reinforcement in construction | 100 bags |
| 17 01 02 17 09 04 |
Stones and bricks in their existing state | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
| 17 02 01 19 12 07 20 01 38 |
Non-hazardous wood | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
| 17 02 04* 19 12 06* 20 01 37* |
Hazardous wooden telegraph poles and railway sleepers, lock gates including balance beams | Construction of buildings, fencing, barriers, containment or similar above ground construction | 100 tonnes |
Table 4: Other specific purposes
If you’re using waste tyres, you must only store up to 10 tonnes within the 40 tonnes allowed at any one time.
(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous. Read Hazardous waste regulations.
| Waste code | Type of waste | Purpose | Maximum limit at any one time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 01 03 | End-of-life tyres | Weight on cover sheeting on farms or as crash barriers | 40 tonnes |
| 02 02 02 | Shellfish shells (flesh removed) | Ornamental purposes | 50 tonnes |
| 19 12 05 | Crushed glass only | Ornamental purposes | 50 tonnes |
| 20 01 27* 20 01 28 08 01 11* 08 01 12 |
Paints (excluding industrial paint, wood preservatives, aerosol and spray paints, inks, adhesives and resins) | Paint | 1,000 litres |
| 19 05 99 | Compost produced for growing mushrooms only | Growing mushrooms | 1,000 tonnes |
Registering your waste exemption
Register a U8 exemption with the Environment Agency. You can register and pay through the waste exemption service.
Registration rules
You cannot:
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register more than one U8 at the same site
-
register a U8 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 or treat waste that’s not included in the exemption
Waste exemption charges
Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges are.
U8 exemption has a band 2 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. U8 is included in the list of farming exemptions.
Read waste exemptions guidance in full.
Related exemptions
- S2: storing waste at a secure site
- T4: storing and preparing for further treatment
- T6: treating waste wood and plant matter
- T12: manually treating waste
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
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Updated to clarify when a U8 exemption is not needed. Added charging information and registration rules. Table formatting for waste types and descriptions has been made clearer.
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Updated with a link to new information about charges and charging bands for waste exemptions.
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Updated the table heading to 'Quantity limit (at any one time)'.
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First published.