T21: recovering waste at waste water treatment works
T21 exemption allows you to recover wastes such as sewage grits, screenings and sewage sludge at a waste water treatment works.
Applies to England
There鈥檚 a charge for most waste exemptions
This exemption is in band 1. Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges and charging bands are.
Types of activity you can carry out
Storing and treating listed wastes on the premises of a waste water treatment works for waste recovery.
Types of activity you cannot carry out
You cannot use this exemption to:
- treat waste at locations other than at a waste water treatment works
- treat hazardous waste
- treat wastes through the waste water treatment process
- store wastes that will be disposed of through the waste water treatment process
- store wastes that you will not treat
Type of waste you can treat
The waste codes are listed in the following table. You need to make sure your waste fits within the relevant waste code and description.
| Waste code | Type of waste |
|---|---|
| 19听08听01 | Screenings |
| 19听08听02 | Sewage grit (waste from de-sanding) only |
| 19听08听05 | Sludge from treating urban waste water |
| 19听08听99 | Centrate liquor only |
| 19听09听02 | Sludge from water clarification |
| 19听09听03 | Sludge from decarbonation |
| 19听09听06 | Solutions and sludge from regeneration of ion exchangers |
| 20听03听04 | Septic tank sludge |
| 20听03听06 | Waste from sewage cleaning |
| 20听03听99 | Cesspool waste and other sewage sludge only |
You should classify cesspool waste as 鈥�16聽10聽02 cesspool waste only鈥� rather than using the 20听03听99 code. You can further treat partially treated sewage sludges under this exemption. For more information see Waste codes for sewage sludge and sludge containing other materials: RPS 231.
Quantity of waste you can treat
You can treat up to 100,000 cubic metres of imported waste over any 12-month period in addition to any listed wastes you produce on site.
Main conditions
The waste must be stored and treated in a secure location with sealed drainage.
Related exemptions
None.
Register this exemption
You need to register this exemption with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.
Definitions
Hazardous waste 鈥� see how to classify different types of waste.
Sealed drainage 鈥� a drainage system with an impermeable surface that makes sure that:
- no liquid will run off the surface apart from through the system
- except where they may be lawfully discharged, all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump
Secure 鈥� a container, lagoon or other place is secure in relation to waste kept in it if:
- all reasonable precautions are taken to make sure the waste cannot escape
- members of the public cannot gain access to the waste
Updates to this page
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Updated with a link to new information about charges and charging bands for waste exemptions.
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We have clarified the types of activities you can and cannot carry out, and the types of waste you can treat.
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First published.