Waste exemptions for recycling and reprocessing
You may need to register an exemption with your environmental regulator from waste management licensing if you carry out an exempt waste management activity in Northern Ireland or Scotland.
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 operations and exempt waste management activities which may be relevant to your businesses include:
| Exemption reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exempt waste activity or operation | Northern Ireland | Scotland |
| Storing waste in secure containers in certain cases, eg storing up to 3 cubic metres of waste oil | Paragraph 18 Must be registered |
Paragraph 18 Must be registered |
| Storing waste for recovery or recycling in a secure place in certain cases, eg storing up to 500 tonnes of waste plastic for up to 12 months | Paragraph 12 Must be registered |
Paragraph 17 Must be registered |
| Storing sludge in certain cases, eg storing residual sludge from septic tanks | Paragraph 10A and 10B Must be registered |
Paragraph 8 Must be registered |
| Storing waste (non-hazardous or hazardous/special) temporarily on the site where it is produced in a secure place for no longer than 12 months, eg 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 |
| Cleaning, washing, spraying or coating waste packaging and containers in certain cases, eg paper and cardboard packaging | Paragraph 6 Must be registered |
Paragraph 4 Must be registered |
| Laundering and cleaning textiles for recovery | Paragraph 20 Must be registered |
Paragraph 20 Must be registered |
| Treating waste by baling, sorting, shredding, pulverising, crushing or compacting it, eg cans and foils, glass, and food and drink cartons | Paragraph 12 Must be registered |
Paragraph 11 Must be registered |
| Treating waste wood and waste plant matter for recovery, by chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising | Paragraph 21 Must be registered |
Paragraph 21 Must be registered |
| Treating waste bricks, tiles and concrete by crushing, grinding or reducing in size | Paragraph 24 Must be registered |
Paragraph 24 Must be registered |
| Recovering scrap metal | Paragraph 45 Must be registered |
Paragraph 45 Must be registered |
| Repairing and refurbishing WEEE | Paragraph 49 Must be registered |
Paragraph 47 Must be registered |
| Treating certain waste for reuse or recovery, eg bicycles, clothing, furniture, wooden pallets | Paragraph 15 Must be registered |
Paragraph 14 Must be registered |
| Recovering silver from printing and photographic waste | Paragraph 22 Must be registered |
Paragraph 22 Must be registered |
Further information on waste exemptions
NIEA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing
SEPA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing
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