Guidance

Storing and treating waste to make biochar: LRWP 60

Updated 19 December 2024

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-risk-waste-positions-miscellaneous/storing-and-treating-waste-to-make-biochar-lrwp-60

This low risk waste position (LRWP) applies if you store and treat waste to make biochar under the following waste codes only:

  • 02 01 03 - untreated plant tissue waste from agriculture, horticulture and forestry activities
  • 02 01 07 - untreated wood waste from forestry activities
  • 02 03 04 - vegetable waste unsuitable for consumption or processing
  • 03 01 01 - untreated waste bark and cork
  • 03 01 05 - untreated sawdust, wood shavings and wood cuttings
  • 03 03 01 - untreated waste bark and wood

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:

  • store the waste in a secure place
  • only store up to 30 tonnes of waste at the site of manufacture
  • only make biochar by pyrolysis in a unit specifically designed for this process, with a maximum throughput of 50kg per hour

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.

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