Spreading certain wastes on agricultural land

This guidance is for farmers that import wastes such as paper sludge and food wastes to spread on their land.

What you must do

If you landspread wastes such as paper sludge, compost, dredging spoil or ash, you may need to register an exemption from waste management licensing.

If you have registered an exemption you must ensure that you do not:

• endanger human health or cause pollution to water, air or soil
• pose a risk to plants or animals
• cause a nuisance, eg noise or odour
• adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.

Permits, exemptions and requirements for landspreading

Comply with the conditions of your exemptions

To qualify for exemptions from waste management licensing you must comply with other requirements. For example:

• you must only spread waste types that are listed in the regulations
• you must not exceed the quantities for the specific type of waste you are spreading
• you must store waste in a secure place before spreading
• you must not spread waste on land that is frozen, waterlogged or covered in snow
• your treatment of land may need to benefit wildlife or agriculture.

In Northern Ireland, for a full list of exempt wastes, see Schedule 2, paragraph 9, table 3 of the Waste Management Licensing (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2003.

Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

In Scotland, for a full list of exempt wastes, see Appendix 4 of Section 5 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) Code.

Scottish Government: Section 5 of the PEPFAA Code

Nitrate vulnerable zones

In Northern Ireland all farmers must comply with spreading rules under the Nutrient Action Programme.

DAERA: Nutrient Action Programme 2019-2022 Changes and New Measures

In Scotland check if you are in a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ). If you are within an NVZ you will need to follow certain rules, such as limiting the amount of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertiliser you use and keeping records.

Scotland: Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs)

Watch our short videos:

How to protect soil and water on a farm

How to reduce costs on a farm

How to prevent diffuse pollution on a farm

Further information

Codes of good agricultural practice

The codes of good agricultural practice provide more guidance on landspreading waste.

In Northern Ireland, see section 4 of the DARD code of good agricultural practice for water, air and soil.

DAERA: Code of good agricultural practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil

In Scotland, see section 5 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) Code.

Scottish Government: Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA Code) 2005 (Scotland) (Adobe PDF - 1.34MB)

Environmental regulators' web pages on exemptions

 DAERA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing

SEPA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing

Read more Managing Waste Materials topics on NetRegs

SEE ALSO: Land spreading sewage sludge Guidance for the agriculture sector