Paragraph 51 - The anaerobic digestion of agricultural or distillery waste

What the legislation says:

51.—(1) The anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste which is agricultural waste or waste
from a distillery.

(2) In this paragraph, “anaerobic digestion” means the process of controlled decomposition of
waste under managed conditions—

(a) where free oxygen is absent;

(b) at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobe and facultative anaerobe bacteria species; and

(c) where the inputs to the process are converted to a methane rich biogas for use in an energy recovery process and to a stable sanitised material, the application of which material to land results in benefit to agriculture or horticulture or ecological improvement.

Registration Requirements:

Must be notified to SEPA using the appropriate form and enclosing the correct fee. Registration "expires" after 12 months unless a renewal notice has been received and registered by SEPA. A renewal notice should be submitted to SEPA at least 21 days before the registration is due to "expire".

Notification Form:

  • Use WMX-FM51 - Form to register or renew a paragraph 51 exemption word link image (146k)


Guidance:

  • WMX-TG51 - Technical Guidance Note for Paragraph 51 exemptions pdf link (112k)

Further information on Agricultural Benefit & Ecological Improvement can be found in Schedule 2 of the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 external link.