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

Further information on waste exemptions

Activities exempt from waste management licensing

Your environmental regulator provides more details about exemptions for hunting/shooting waste.

NIEA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing

SEPA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing

Return to the menu of the Waste exemptions by sector environmental topic