Exempt Activity Returns

Some activities involving waste materials are exempt from licensing if they meet the requirements detailed in Regulations 17 and 18 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended). More information can be found at www.sepa.org.uk/regulation/waste/exemptions.htm.

The Waste Management Licensing Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003 introduced a requirement for most of those activities exempt under paragraphs 7, 9 and 19 to keep records, for a period of at least two years, of the quantity, nature, origin, destination and method of recovery or disposal of all waste used in connection with an exempt activity. These records have either to be submitted to SEPA or made available on request. The Waste Management Licensing Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 widened the requirements to cover the following exemptions:

• paragraphs 7, 8(2), 10 and 46;
  
• paragraphs 9 and 19 where the volume of waste used exceeds 2,500
  cubic metres;
  
• paragraph 12 where the volume of waste used exceeds 10
  tonnes per annum.

In October 2004, SEPA introduced a procedure to gather information on these exempt activities. Data are gathered annually from the site operators and include the waste type, quantity of waste and geographical origin of the waste.

The annual return form for exempt activities can be downloaded here