What are exempt waste operations?
Certain waste operations have been exempt from the need to hold an environmental permit (formerly a waste management licence) for many years. These operations are not unregulated but are subject to a lighter touch regulation requiring those who carry them out to comply with certain rules and not cause harm to the environment.
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 say that most activities to manage waste should have a permit. However, there are some exceptions. These are called exemptions. Exemptions are waste operations that do not need a permit but do need to be registered.
Guidance on waste exemptions and related core guidance on the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations is available on the Defra website.
Who Registers exempt waste operations
Most exempt waste operations are registered by the Environment Agency, however local authorities including North East Lincolnshire Council register two types of waste treatment activity:
- Treating waste metals or alloys by heating to remove grease, oil or any other non-metallic contaminant (also called a category T3 activity)
- Treating waste bricks, tiles or concrete by crushing, grinding or size reduction (also called a category T7 activity)
T7 exempt waste operations
T7 activities are the crushing, grinding or other size reduction of waste bricks, tiles or concrete typically using small-scale/micro crushers and can include some mobile plant.
To qualify as a T7 exempt waste operation the activity must also meet the following criteria:
- The total quantity of waste treated over any period of 1 hour should not exceed 20 tonnes
- The total quantity of waste stored at any one time must not exceed 200 tonnes
- The waste must be stored in a secure location prior to treatment
- Must not release into air certain substance (defined in paragraph 6(3) of Part I of Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 except in quantities which are so trivial that it is incapable of causing pollution or its capacity to cause pollution is insignificant
How do I register my T7 exempt waste operation?
Please complete and submit the on-line Registering Exempt Waste Operations form (located on the right hand side of this page under the Do-it on line heading).
How much does it cost to register?
There is no charge to register.
How long will my registration be valid for?
Registration lasts for three years. After this time you will need to renew your exemptions.
You can renew a registration at any time in the month prior to the renewal date, up to the date the existing registration becomes invalid.
Public register of exempt waste operations
As the exemption registration authority we are required to maintain an up to date public register of establishments or undertakings with a valid T7 exempt waste operation (see above for a description of this activity).
The public register is available during our normal office opening hours and is free to inspect.