Guidance

IsItWaste tool: for advice on the by-products and end of waste tests

Assess whether your waste derived material can be classed as non-waste so is outside of waste controls.

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The IsItWaste tool is no longer available. You can check if your material is waste or get an opinion from the Environment Agency’s definition of waste service on if a material is a by-product or meets ‘end of waste’ status. The service costs £125 an hour including VAT.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The IsItWaste tool was available to businesses. It allowed them to make a submission to the Definition of Waste service and supported ‘end of waste’ and ‘by-product’ self-assessment. The tool, originally funded by the Environment and EU life+ funding has reached the end of its life as the IT system that it is built on is no longer supported.

Updates to this page

Published 19 November 2014
Last updated 29 March 2021 + show all updates
  1. The Definition of Waste Service will remain closed until July 2021. You will not be able to submit a request to the Environment Agency for an opinion on the waste status of your material until this service re-opens. Also, we are decommissioning the IsItWaste tool on 31 March. This is because the IT system that the tool is built on is no longer supported. Businesses can continue to self-assess ‘end of waste’ and ‘by-product’ status of materials after 31 March using the existing Defra guidance. See Part 2 of the Guidance on the legal definition of waste and its application which includes a guide on how to assess whether materials are likely to be waste or not. During the suspension we are reviewing the Definition of Waste Service, developing a new application process and drafting new guidance. If you have a question about the DoW Service suspension or the IsItWaste tool decommissioning email dowservices@environment-agency.gov.uk.

  2. The Definition of Waste Service will remain closed until at least April 2021. You will not be able to submit a request to the Environment Agency for an opinion on the waste status of your material until this service re-opens. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We will review the closure again in April.

  3. The Environment Agency’s Definition of Waste Service has been temporarily suspended to new customers and new submissions until at least 1 January 2021. This means you cannot currently submit a request to us for an opinion on the waste status of your material.

  4. We've updated information on how to use our Definition of Waste Service to get an opinion on whether your waste derived material can be classed as non-waste.

  5. New information about the Definition of Waste Service and charges for this service.

  6. The Definition of Waste Panel is temporarily closed to new submissions while we review the service.

  7. The Environment Agency Definition of Waste Panel is temporarily closed. They will review the closure in November 2016.

  8. First published.

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