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Register a waste exemption

How to register a waste exemption with the Environment Agency instead of applying for a full environmental permit. Covers when exemptions apply, the four categories of exemption (T, U, D, S), registration charges from July 2025, and the 3-year renewal cycle.

Guide summary

Register a waste exemption with the Environment Agency if your business handles small amounts of waste in low-risk ways. You must pay a fee and renew every 3 years. Check the exemption conditions carefully to avoid needing a full permit.

  • Register before starting waste activities
  • Check exemption conditions match your activity
  • Pay £56 registration fee per site
  • Pay extra for higher-risk exemptions
  • Renew every 3 years
  • Charities and T28 exempt from charges
  • Keep records for 2-3 years
  • Only use registered waste carriers
  • Fly-tipping fines up to £1,000
  • Directors can be personally liable
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If your business carries out certain low-risk waste activities - such as storing, treating, using, or disposing of small quantities of waste - you may be able to register a waste exemption instead of applying for a full environmental permit. Exemptions are simpler and cheaper to obtain, but you must meet strict conditions for each exemption you register.

Waste exemptions are common for businesses that:

  • Store waste temporarily before collection
  • Burn waste as fuel (small scale)
  • Use waste materials in construction or land improvement
  • Repair or refurbish items for reuse
  • Treat waste by sorting, separating, or compacting

You must register your exemptions with the Environment Agency before you start the waste activity. Operating without a registration or permit is a criminal offence.

The four categories of waste exemption

Exemptions are grouped into four categories based on the type of waste activity:

  • T exemptions (Treatment): Treating waste by sorting, screening, baling, shredding, or other processing. Examples include T4 (preparatory treatments such as sorting and separating), T6 (treating waste wood with preservative), and T9 (recovering scrap metal).
  • U exemptions (Use): Using waste for a beneficial purpose. Examples include U1 (using waste in construction), U8 (using waste for land reclamation), and U10 (spreading waste on agricultural land for benefit).
  • D exemptions (Disposal): Disposing of waste in limited quantities. Examples include D1 (depositing waste from dredging inland waterways), D4 (burning waste in the open), and D7 (burning waste in a small appliance).
  • S exemptions (Storage): Storing waste before treatment, use, or disposal. Examples include S1 (storing waste in secure containers) and S2 (storing waste at a secure site).

Each exemption has specific conditions covering the types and quantities of waste allowed, how it must be stored, and what records you must keep. Exceeding these conditions means you need a full environmental permit instead.

Registration charges (from July 2025)

Since 1 July 2025, most waste exemptions carry a charge. The charging structure has two parts:

  • Registration charge: A one-off fee of £56 per site covering the registration itself (this covers multiple exemptions if registered together at the same site)
  • Compliance charge: An additional charge for each exemption based on its risk band (Upper, Band 1, Band 2, or Band 3). Higher-risk exemptions cost more.

If you register more than one exemption in the Upper, Band 1, or Band 2 categories, you pay the full compliance charge for the most expensive exemption and a discounted rate for each additional one. Band 3 exemptions are not eligible for discounts.

Exemptions from charges: Charities and anyone registering a T28 exemption (sorting and storing source-segregated waste at a community facility) do not have to pay.

  1. 1

    Check whether an exemption covers your activity

    Review the full list of waste exemptions on GOV.UK to find the exemption that matches your waste activity. Read the conditions carefully - if your activity exceeds the quantity limits, waste types, or other conditions, you will need a full environmental permit instead.

  2. 2

    Register online with the Environment Agency

    Use the waste exemptions registration service at wasteexemptions.service.gov.uk. You will need details of the site where the activity takes place, the exemptions you want to register, and a debit or credit card for payment. Registration is per site, not per business.

  3. 3

    Pay the registration and compliance charges

    Pay the one-off registration charge of £56 per site plus the compliance charge for each exemption based on its risk band. Charities and T28 registrations are exempt from charges. You can register multiple exemptions at the same site in a single application.

  4. 4

    Meet the exemption conditions at all times

    Once registered, you must comply with every condition attached to your exemption. The Environment Agency can inspect your site and may revoke your exemption if conditions are breached. Keep records as required by your specific exemptions.

  5. 5

    Renew your registration every 3 years

    Waste exemptions must be renewed every 3 years. The Environment Agency will contact you before your registration expires. If you do not renew, your exemption lapses and you must stop the waste activity or apply for a permit.

Official guidance on GOV.UK