Guidance

Receiving hazardous waste wood at household waste recycling centres: RPS 249

When household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) can accept hazardous waste wood from households and store it with non-hazardous household waste wood.

This publication was withdrawn on

The Environment Agency is satisfied that the amount of ‘amber’ items of hazardous waste wood is very low and diminishing.

If you produce or handle chemically treated waste wood, follow the Wood Recycling Association’s guidance, as an alternative to sampling and testing.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

If you comply with the conditions in this regulatory position statement (RPS), HWRCs can accept, from householders, the small amount of certain waste wood types that would test as hazardous. You can store this waste with non-hazardous household waste wood under your existing environmental permit. You can classify this mixed waste wood as non-hazardous and move it under a waste transfer note.

This RPS took effect on 1 August 2021. The Environment Agency will withdraw it by 30 September 2024. This will give the waste wood industry time:

  • to finish the agreed sampling and testing programme, that hazardous waste wood in mixed household waste wood is no longer present
  • if hazardous waste wood is present, to apply for a permit variation to handle hazardous waste wood

Updates to this page

Published 23 July 2021
Last updated 13 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. We will withdraw this RPS by 30 September 2024.

  2. First published.

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