Paragraph 20 - Cleaning waste textiles for recovery

What the legislation says:

20. —(1) Laundering or otherwise cleaning waste textiles with a view to their recovery or reuse.

(2) The storage of waste textiles at the place where they are to be so laundered or cleaned.

Registration Requirements:

Needs to be registered with SEPA but no fee is required.

This exemption can be registered online.

However, establishments and undertakings can still use the paper form should they wish. This form should be sent to the Registrar at your local SEPA area office (addresses are given on the form)

The following questions and answers are provided to help you further understand this exemption:

Q. How long will the registration last? Will it require renewal at any time?
A. The registration of this exemption is not time limited but it can be de-registered by SEPA if it is not managed properly and no longer fulfills the criteria requirements of the exemption or if the activities cause pollution or harm to health. If the activity does comply with the exemption criteria the registration will not have to be renewed except where there is a significant change to the activity.

Examples of activities that are not suitable for registration under the Paragraph 20 exemption.
An establishment collects waste textiles at its depot, which are sorted and despatched elsewhere. The sorting activity does not qualify for a Paragraph 20 exemption. It may be permissible under Paragraph 11.

Examples of activities that are suitable for registration under the Paragraph 20 exemption.
A company collects discarded textiles from household waste sites which are sorted and, where they are suitable for re-sale, are cleaned.

The company would need to register a Paragraph 20 exemption at the place where the cleaning and storing is undertaken. The sorting of the textiles should also be registered under the paragraph 11 exemption.