Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
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 apply to hunting, shooting and game breeding businesses include:
Exempt waste activity or operation | Exemption reference | |
Northern Ireland | Scotland | |
Burning untreated wood and plant matter in the open | Paragraph 30 | Paragraph 30 |
Composting biodegradable waste, and storing waste for composting. | Paragraph 13 | Paragraph 12 |
Treating waste plant matter or wood by chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising it. | Paragraph 21 | Paragraph 21 |
Treating waste pesticide solution or washings in a lined biobed or filter | No exemption | Paragraph 42 |
Storing any waste (non-hazardous or hazardous/special) temporarily on the site where it was products in a secure place for no longer than 12 months. For example, tyres, wood, paints. | 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 waste in an incinerator with a capacity of less than 50kg per hour at the place where it was produced, eg farmed animal carcases, untreated waste wood. | Paragraph 29 The incinerator must have a rated thermal input of less than 0.3 megawatts |
Paragraph 29 |
You must check whether your registered exemption needs to be renewed. Some registered exemptions last for as long as the activity is carried out while others may only last for 12 months.
If you are not sure whether you can register an exemption for your waste operation or waste management activity, or how long an exemption will last, contact your environmental regulator for further advice.
Contact your environmental regulator
Storing waste
Activities exempt from waste management licensing
Your environmental regulator provides more details about exemptions for hunting/shooting waste.
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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