On 2 June, the Scottish Surroundings Safety Company (SEPA) mentioned it was informing companies in Scotland of essential adjustments to the regulation of using waste on land for soil enchancment. This consists of adjustments to tips on how to apply for an authorisation.
The transfer will create a single regulatory framework for the appliance of waste to land, mentioned SEPA, “providing better equity and environmental safeguards.”
From 1 November 2025, the spreading of waste and handled sewage sludge to land for soil enchancment actions will probably be regulated beneath the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Rules 2018 (EASR). This consolidates and replaces the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Rules 1989 and Paragraph 7 and eight exemptions beneath the Waste Administration Licensing (Scotland) Rules 2011 (WML).
Scott Crawford, Senior Allowing Supervisor at SEPA, mentioned: “Our new strategy to regulating this exercise will present higher environmental safety, whereas offering consistency, readability, and a degree enjoying discipline for operators throughout the sector.
“As a part of the appliance course of, operators should show they’re appropriate to undertake this exercise and may meet the situations of the authorisation. This consists of situations on the kind and amount of fabric unfold to land to minimise the influence on the setting, and requires the operator to hold out monitoring and reporting.”
What this implies for companies
SEPA mentioned companies can apply now for a brand new EASR authorisation for the appliance of waste to land, together with handled sewage sludge. Any authorisations granted throughout this era is not going to come into impact till 1 November 2025.
Everybody that carries out the appliance of waste to land for the aim of soil enchancment actions must apply for a brand new EASR authorisation. Once they apply will rely upon their present preparations.
Operators planning new waste-to-land actions previous to 1 November can have the choice to both apply for a brand new EASR authorisation or register a brand new exemption. Any new exemption will probably be legitimate for 12 months from date of challenge however can’t be renewed as soon as expired. Operators must apply for an EASR authorisation earlier than the expiry date.
Those who already perform exercise beneath an exemption that is because of expire earlier than the 1 November have the choice to both apply for a brand new EASR authorisation or renew their present exemption. Renewed exemptions will probably be legitimate for 12 months from date of renewal however can’t be renewed past this. Operators must apply for an EASR authorisation earlier than the expiry date.
These with exemptions expiring after 1 November 2025 should apply for a brand new EASR authorisation earlier than the expiry date in the event that they want to proceed finishing up this exercise. Renewals beneath the present waste administration licencing framework will not be doable past this date.
Making use of for a brand new authorisation
Beneath EASR, there are two varieties of authorisations out there to be used of waste-to-land for soil enchancment actions:
- Registration: For single-site waste to land actions, with commonplace situations. SEPA will decide purposes inside 28 days.
- Allow: For multi-site actions or operations requiring site-specific situations. Permits could take as much as 4 months for willpower.
The kind of authorisation a enterprise applies for will rely upon what works greatest for his or her operational circumstances.
Candidates will probably be required to submit detailed data together with website particulars and operational processes. The applicant will endure a Match and Correct Individual check to make sure they’re appropriate to be accountable for the exercise and chargeable for general compliance with authorisation situations.
In contrast to the present exemption system, EASR authorisations is not going to require annual renewal and can stay legitimate till surrendered or revoked. Nonetheless, annual exercise charges will apply.
To ease the transition, SEPA has launched a short lived regulatory place permitting companies with expiring exemptions between June and November 2025 to proceed working, supplied they’ve submitted an EASR utility that covers the identical website.
Operators should adjust to present exemption situations till their new authorisation comes into impact, says SEPA, or the appliance course of concludes.
Companies looking for assist finishing purposes or additional assist with the transition are inspired to contact SEPA for help.
