Some common, low risk waste activities (LWRA) don’t need authorisation from SEPA. However, you must follow certain conditions for each activity. If you cannot comply with the conditions, you may need an EASR waste authorisation.

See the SEPA guidance page for more details and conditions for low risk waste activities - SEPA low risk waste activities

The LRWA identified by SEPA are: 

Sector / activity 

LRWA No. 

Activity description 

 

Voluntary/ community 

1 

Storage of waste from voluntary litter collections such as litter picks or beach cleans 

2 

Burning waste wood on campfires and bonfires 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction/ infrastructure 

3 

Treating asphalt road planings in a milling machine 

4 

Screening waste soil to remove vegetation, wood, rubble 

5 

Cutting, chipping, and shredding waste plant matter and using the mulch 

6 

Burying invasive non-native plant 

7 

Burning less than 10 tonnes per day of clean plant matter waste and untreated waste wood in the open 

8 

Burn waste trees, plants and associated packaging when a Plant Health Notice has been issued, to prevent the spread of plant diseases  

9 

Deposit non-hazardous waste dredging materials from inland waters, or sustainable urban drainage systems, on land near to where the dredging takes place 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture 

10 

Use of waste tyres as weight on cover sheeting in silage systems  

11 

Use of waste for animal bedding  

12 

Burial of poisoned rodent carcasses on farmland 

13 

Use ash from the incineration of pig or poultry carcasses on land  

14 

Treat waste organophosphate sheep dip prior to disposal to land (disposal of sheep dip to land requires authorisation) 

15 

Disposal of pesticide solutions or washings in a lined biobed  

 

 

 

Composting/ anaerobic digestion 

16 

Composting biodegradable waste or manure in open systems, and use of the compost, at the place the waste or manure was produced, e.g., at farms, liveries, schools, parks, golf courses, nature reserves 

17 

Composting less than, or equal to, 1 tonne of waste, including Animal By-Product food waste (i.e., mixed food waste) per day in an enclosed system. For example, at a hotel, hospital, college campus, or market.  

18 

Anaerobic digestion of less than, or equal to, 1 tonne of waste including Animal By-Product food waste at any one time in an enclosed system 

Healthcare 

19 

Store, sort and denature waste-controlled drugs at a pharmacy or veterinary surgery  

Energy 

20 

Burning waste biomass as a fuel in a small appliance  

 

 

 

Other 

21 

Store ships waste in suitable containers at a harbour  

22 

Store and process samples of waste at a laboratory  

23 

Use of waste for entertainment or educational purposes  

24 

Emergency services and armed forces use of waste motor vehicles  

25 

Using waste in creative installations 

 

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