Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
This guidance is for farmers that import wastes such as paper sludge and food wastes to spread on their land.
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:
Landspreading activity | Type of permit or exemption reference | ||
Northern Ireland | Scotland | ||
Landspreading sewage sludge on agricultural land Read our guidance on landspreading sewage sludge |
Comply with the Sludge Regulations | Comply with the Sludge Regulations | |
Securely storing sewage sludge to be spread on agricultural land | Paragraph 10 exemption | Paragraph 8 exemption | |
Landspreading sewage sludge on non-agricultural land | Paragraph 10A exemption | Paragraph 8 exemption | |
Spreading waste on agricultural land for benefit or ecological improvement | Paragraph 9 exemption | Paragraph 7 exemption | |
Spreading waste on non-agricultural land for benefit or ecological improvement | Paragraph 9 exemption | Paragraph 7 exemption | |
Spreading waste for reclamation or improvement of land | Paragraph 11 exemption | Paragraph 9 exemption |
To qualify for exemptions from waste management licensing you must comply with other requirements. For example:
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
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 prevent diffuse pollution on a farm
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.
DAERA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing
SEPA: Activities exempt from waste management licensing
Read more Managing Waste Materials topics on NetRegs
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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