51茶馆

The U12 exemption allows landscapers, farmers and growers to spread mulch using wood chips and plant matter made from waste.

Conditions

You must comply with the exemption conditions.聽

The waste you use must:聽聽

• match the waste codes聽
• be suitable for mulching
• be stored in a secure location before it is used

You cannot:

• use more waste than is needed to protect and benefit the soil - using more is classed as disposal
• store and use more than the maximum amount allowed
• use waste wood that has been chemically treated

Chemically treated waste wood means it has been preserved, varnished, coated, painted or exposed to chemicals.

Types and amounts of waste you can use

Your waste must fit within the waste code and description.

Waste codes	Type of waste
02听01听03 19听12听07 20听02听01	Untreated wood and plant matter

You can store or use up to 100 tonnes of mulch in total in any month.

Check if you need other permits聽

You must comply with other rules that apply to your activity. You鈥檒l need an environmental permit or a different exemption if you want to use:聽聽聽

• waste that is not listed in this exemption聽聽聽
• more waste than is allowed

Waste activity along a linear network聽

Linear networks are long stretches that do not have a defined address or gridpoint. They include roads, rivers, canals and railways.听听聽

You can register a U12 exemption if the mulch is produced and used on the same linear network. You cannot import waste mulch from other sites.听听

You can use up to 10 tonnes of mulch per linear mile per month.

Register a U12 waste exemption聽

You must register with the Environment Agency.

Charities register by phone聽聽

Charities do not have to pay for waste exemptions. If you鈥檙e a charity or organisation that works only for charitable purposes, call the Environment Agency to register free of charge.

Linear networks and multiple site registrations聽

You鈥檒l need to complete this registration form instead of using the online service.

Registration rules聽

You cannot:聽

• have more than one U12 at a site at the same time聽
• register a U12 if it鈥檚 already been registered at the site by another business聽
• renew your registration more than one month before the 3-year registration period ends聽
• increase the storage limit by registering a separate storage exemption聽聽
• store waste that鈥檚 not included in the exemption
• deregister an exemption then register it again within 3 years of the start of the earlier registration聽

Waste exemption charges聽聽聽聽

Read waste exemption charges to find out what the charges are.听听

U12 exemption has a band 3 compliance charge.听听

There鈥檚 a registration charge to register one or more exemptions at a time.听听

Farmer charges聽

Farmers pay a capped charge for any number of farming exemptions. U12 is included in the list of farming exemptions.

Read waste exemptions guidance in full.

U12 related exemptions

T6: treating waste wood and plant matter

U10: spreading waste to benefit agricultural land

U11: spreading waste on non-agricultural land

Contact the Environment Agency