Guidance

Disposing of trees or plants affected by disease or pests: RPS 71

Environment Agency regulatory position on disposing of trees or plants affected by disease or pests by burning: RPS 71.

Applies to England

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Details

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation or register and comply with a D6 or D7 waste exemption when you burn trees or plants.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you:

  • burn trees or plants and any associated packaging as instructed by and under a Plant Health Notice
  • meet the requirements in the RPS

The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.

Updates to this page

Published 13 November 2012
Last updated 29 August 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the RPS to the new template and extended the review date to 1 May 2027.

  2. We have extended the expiry date to August 2024.

  3. This RPS has been amended to allow trees and plants affected by disease or pests to be burnt in the open under a Plant Health Notice.

  4. This RPS is now valid until August 2020.

  5. First published.

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