Exempt activity data returns

Lower risk waste management activities, such as some reclamation and recycling activities, are not usually seen as a threat to the environment or human health. They are, therefore, exempt from the need to obtain a waste management licence and instead require the activity to be registered with SEPA.

There are 48 different exempt activities and these are defined as paragraphs in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended).  Most of these paragraphs are subject to specific constraints on waste types, quantities, capacities and duration of storage.  More information, including what is covered by each paragraph, is available from the waste regulation pages.

Registration of certain ‘complex’ exempt activities is required annually along with the payment of a fee.  The operators of these particular activities are required 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 the activity.  These records have to be made available to SEPA on request.

The exempt activities covered by the above requirements are:

  • 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 year 

In October 2004, SEPA introduced a procedure to gather information on exempt activities registered under paragraphs 7, 9 and 19. This procedure was extended to include activities registered under paragraphs 8(2), 10, 12 and 46 in January 2006.  Under this procedure, SEPA gathers data annually from the operators, including the type, quantity and geographical origin of the waste handled. Summary data can be viewed here:

Exemptions data are also used for reporting under the European Union Waste Statistics Regulations, for the annual Waste Data Digest and to inform Scotland's Zero Waste Plan.

The annual return form for exempt activities can be downloaded here:

Further information and guidance on registering an exemption is available from the waste regulation pages.