Registered waste exemptions explained: T, S, U and D categories, fees and how to register

A registered waste exemption lets you carry out a low-risk waste activity — sorting materials on site, treating wood waste, or using demolition rubble as construction fill — without needing a full environmental permit. Here is what the four categories cover, what they now cost (fees changed in July 2025), and when you need a permit instead.

What is a registered waste exemption?

Full environmental permits for waste operations can take months to obtain and carry substantial annual subsistence fees. Exemptions exist for lower-risk activities that are still regulated — each must be registered, the operator can be inspected, and registrations expire — but without the full permit burden. You must register each exemption at each individual site where you carry out that activity.

What are the four categories of waste exemption?

Each specific exemption — for example T4 or U1 — has its own detailed conditions set out in individual guidance pages on gov.uk. You can hold more than one exemption at a site, and exemptions can be combined: an S2 storage exemption, for instance, can extend the storage capacity available at a T4 treating activity.

A small number of exemptions (primarily certain crushing and de-greasing activities) are registered with the local authority rather than the Environment Agency. The individual guidance pages confirm which body each exemption is registered with.

How much does registering a waste exemption cost?

From 1 July 2025 the Environment Agency charges £56 per site registration plus a new per-exemption compliance charge of £30–£1,236. Before July 2025, only a small flat site charge applied — no per-exemption charge. Charities and T28 (certain medical waste) exemptions are excluded from the new charges. In Wales, most exemptions remain free to register with Natural Resources Wales.

If you register more than one Band 1 or Band 2 exemption at the same site in a single registration, you pay the full rate for the most expensive one in those bands and £76 for each additional exemption in those bands. The £56 site registration charge is a one-off per transaction, not per exemption.

How long does a waste exemption registration last?

Failing to renew means the registration lapses. Continuing to carry out the waste activity without a valid exemption or permit is a criminal offence under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, so renew well before the three-year deadline. Set a calendar reminder at around the two-year-nine-month mark so you are not caught out.

When do you need a full environmental permit instead of an exemption?

• →Quantity too high: T4 allows up to 15,000 tonnes stored at any one time. If you routinely exceed that threshold, an exemption will not cover you and you need an environmental permit from the outset.
• →Hazardous waste involved: most T, S and U exemptions exclude hazardous waste entirely. Activities that handle hazardous streams — even occasionally — typically require an environmental permit.
• →Activity not listed: if what you do does not match any T, S, U or D exemption description on the Environment Agency's guidance pages, there is no exemption to register. You need a permit.
• →Permit required by condition: some planning permissions, contracts or funding conditions require an environmental permit even where an exemption might otherwise apply.

If you are unsure, use the Environment Agency's “Check if you need a permit” tool on gov.uk and review the individual exemption guidance page for the activity you intend to carry out. Operating outside an exemption's conditions without a permit can result in enforcement notices, unlimited fines and prosecution.

How do you register a waste exemption in England?

• →Search “register waste exemption” on gov.uk — the registration service is at gov.uk/guidance/register-your-waste-exemptions.
• →Identify which exemption code(s) apply using the EA's guidance pages for treating, storing, using and disposing categories. Choosing the wrong exemption type is a common mistake.
• →Register each exemption at each individual site — the same exemption type at two different sites requires two separate registrations, each with its own £56 registration charge.
• →You can register multiple exemptions at the same site in a single transaction, paying one £56 registration charge and the applicable compliance charge for each exemption.
• →Keep records of your registration numbers — the Environment Agency, contractors and site auditors may ask to see them.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

If your sites span more than one nation, you need to register under each nation's framework separately. The England-specific fees and three-year duration described in this guide apply only to EA-administered exemptions; the devolved regulators publish their own registration requirements and charges.

This guide is general information about registered waste exemptions in England, not legal advice. Exemption conditions, fees and availability change — always verify your specific activity against the current Environment Agency guidance and, where in doubt, consult your environmental regulator or a specialist waste management adviser.