Waste exemptions for paper and cardboard
You may need to register an exemption with your environmental regulator from waste management licensing if you carry out an exempt waste management activity.
Some exemptions do not need to be registered although you must comply with the exemption's conditions.
Activities exempt from waste management licensing
Exempt waste management activities which may be relevant to your businesses include:
| Exemption reference | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Exempt waste activity or operation |
Northern Ireland | Scotland |
|
Baling, sorting or shredding up to 3,000 tonnes per week of waste paper or cardboard, for recovery or reuse |
Paragraph 12 Must be registered |
Paragraph 11 Must be registered |
| Manufacturing products from waste paper or cardboard, up to 15,000 tonnes used or stored at any one time | Paragraph 15 Must be registered |
Paragraph 14 Must be registered |
| Composting biodegradable waste | Paragraph 13 Must be registered |
Paragraph 12 Must be registered |
| Burning some waste wood or bark as a fuel in a small appliance in certain cases | Paragraph 5 Must be registered |
Paragraph 5 Must be registered |
|
Recovery of waste and return to the production process |
Paragraph 26 Must be registered |
Paragraph 26 Must be registered |
| Storing any waste (non-hazardous or hazardous/special) temporarily on the site where it is produced in a secure place for no longer than 12 months. For example, waste solvents, waste oil, plastic packaging, paper and cardboard. | Paragraph 41 There are quantity limits for storing hazardous waste No need to register |
Paragraph 41 There are quantity limits for storing special waste No need to register |
| Burning as a fuel, under a permit granted under the PPC regulations, of straw, poultry litter or wood (at less than 1 tonne per hour in Northern Ireland) (Applies to biomass boilers) | Paragraph 5 | Paragraph 3 |
If you want to use waste pulp or paper for treating land, the following exemptions may apply:
- treating agricultural land with waste bark and wood, pulp from virgin timber, de-inked paper sludge, de-inked paper pulp from paper recycling and lime mud waste
- treating forests, woodlands, park gardens, verges, landscaped areas, sports grounds, recreation grounds, churchyards or cemeteries with waste bark and wood, and pulp from virgin timber.
Further information on waste exemptions
NIEA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing
SEPA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing