U12 waste exemption: using mulch
The U12 exemption allows landscapers, farmers and growers to spread mulch as a protective covering onto land around trees, bushes or plants.
Applies to England
Types of activity you can carry out
You can spread wood chips made from waste as a mulch, for example to:
- conserve soil moisture
- moderate soil temperature
- control growth of weeds
- provide organic matter as the mulch breaks down
Types of activity you cannot carry out
You cannot:
- use treated wood waste (apart from shredding)
- use any other waste apart from those listed below
Types of waste you can use
The waste codes are listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. You need to make sure your waste fits within the waste code and the description.
| Waste code | Type of waste |
|---|---|
| 020103, 191207, 200201 | Untreated wood and plant matter |
Key conditions
Waste must be stored in a secure location before it is used.
You can store and use up to 100 tonnes of mulch in any month.
You should only use as much waste as is needed to achieve the intended benefit. If you apply more mulch than appears reasonable, the Environment Agency may consider this as disposal of waste.
Other things you need to know
This exemption can be carried out along a linear place such as a highway. Read guidance on ‘meaning of place’ for a linear site.
The total amount used at one place in a specified period must not be exceeded.
U12 related exemptions
U10: spreading of waste on agricultural land to confer benefit
U11: spreading waste on non-agricultural land to confer benefit
T6: treatment of waste wood and waste plant matter by chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising
Register a U12 exemption
You need to register this exemption with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.