Guidance

Repairing, refurbishing and cleaning intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) formally used in the food industry: LRWP 67

Updated 19 December 2024

Applies to England

This low risk waste position (LRWP) applies if you repair, refurbish and clean IBCs formally used in the food industry for lower grade reuse elsewhere (List of Waste code 20 01 99).

If you follow the conditions in this LRWP you can carry out the activity without an environmental permit for a waste operation.

Conditions you must comply with

You must:

  • only repair, refurbish and clean IBCs formally used in the food industry for the purposes of reusing the IBC
  • limit treatment to sorting, cleaning, repairing or refurbishing
  • only store up to 100 tonnes of IBCs at any one time

You must make sure your activities do not endanger human health or the environment.

You must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
  • cause a nuisance through noise or odours
  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

Enforcement

A LRWP means that the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you provided:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this LRWP
  • you comply with the conditions set out in this LRWP
  • your activity does not, and is not likely to, cause environmental pollution or harm human health

Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.