Licensed-permitted site data returns

Waste management activities in Scotland are regulated by SEPA to prevent pollution and to prevent harm to human health. These activities are generally controlled by Waste Management Licences and Pollution Prevention and Control permits. Further information is available from the relevant waste regulation pages.

Lower risk activities which are exempt from waste management licensing are considered on the exempt activity data page and on the relevant waste regulation pages.

Conditions in a Waste Management Licence or Pollution Prevention and Control permit require the provision of quarterly data to SEPA on the types and quantities of waste managed (treated and/or disposed) at the facility.  Waste reported in these statutory data returns is classified according to the European Waste Catalogue List of Wastes.

Summary data on waste treated and waste landfilled at licensed and permitted sites are available here:

The statutory information provided is used to check compliance with the licence or permit, to contribute towards national and international reporting obligations and to inform Scotland's Zero Waste Plan.  The data are also published in the annual Waste Data Digest. In addition, a summary report for each return is placed on SEPA’s public register.

Licensed/Permitted Site Return form

The Licensed/Permitted Site Return form can be submitted in Excel or Word format and emailed to waste.data@sepa.org.uk. Operators should submit the data within 28 days of the last day of March, June, September and December each year.

Excel version

Word version