Skip to content
Menu

Exempt waste operations

Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010, most activities concerned with managing or treating waste must have a permit. 

There are some exceptions, which do not require an environmental permit, but do need to be registered. They are subject to ‘lighter touch’ regulation, requiring operators to comply with certain rules and not to harm the environment.

Which waste operations are exempt?

Local authorities are responsible for registering two types of exempt waste operations: 

  • T3 – treatment of waste metals and metal alloys by heating for the purposes of removing grease, oil and non-metallic contaminants
  • T7 – treatment of waste bricks, tiles and concrete by crushing, grinding or reducing in size 

All other waste exemptions are dealt with by the Environment Agency - find out about them on their website.

T3 exemptions

To qualify as a T3 exempt waste operation the activity must also meet the following criteria: 

  • total quantity of waste stored at any one time must not exceed 10 tonnes
  • waste must be stored in a secure location with sealed drainage
  • appliance (or aggregate of all appliances used together) must be less than 0.2 megawatts net rated thermal input
  • must not involve the removal of plastic and rubber from scrap cable or any asbestos contaminant

T7 exemptions

To qualify as a T7 exempt waste operation the activity must also meet the following criteria: 

  • total quantity of waste treated over any period of one hour should not exceed 20 tonnes
  • total quantity of waste stored at any one time must not exceed 200 tonnes
  • waste must be stored in a secure location prior to treatment
  • must not release into air certain substances (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 

T7 exemptions can include some mobile plants. If you operate a mobile plant then your principal place of business must be within the Newark and Sherwood District Council area, otherwise you should contact your home local authority. If your principal place of business is outside of the United Kingdom then we can still register your exemption if the activity is to be carried out within our district.

Applying for a waste exemption

If you carry out either of the above activities and meet the specified criteria then you should apply to register for an exemption by filling out an Exempt Waste Operations application form (PDF File, 173kb)

There is no cost to register an exempt process and the registration of exemption lasts for three years before it must be renewed. You can apply to renew registration, using the above form, anytime during the final month of active registration. 

If you cannot meet the specific criteria then it is likely that a full permit is required. Apply for an environmental permit online via the gov.uk website. 

Find out more about environmental permits and exemptions on the gov.uk website.