Environmental guidelines for waste
DECC produces guidance material for the regulated community to assist in meeting regulatory requirements.
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Waste classification guidelines
In April 2008 DECC replaced the Environmental Guidelines: Assessment, Classification and Management of Liquid and Non-liquid Wastes with the Waste Classification Guidelines. This document includes the following parts listed below. Part 1 outlines a simple step-by-step process for waste generators to follow to classify their waste for disposal.
- Part 1: Classifying waste (091216classifywaste.pdf, 270 KB)
- Part 2: Immobilisation of waste (08203immobilisationwaste.pdf, 40 KB)
- Part 3: Waste containing radioactive material (08560radioactivewaste.pdf, 30 KB)
- Part 4: Acid sulfate soils (08446acidsulfsoils.pdf, 43 KB)
Resource recovery guidelines
The Resource Recovery Exemptions (Land Application) Guidelines outline the criteria that DECC will use in considering a proposal for a waste or waste-derived material to be applied to land. In addition, it provides guidance to assist with the preparation of a specific exemption application. Proposals for waste or waste-derived materials to be used as a fuel should be made in accordance with the Guidance Note: Assessment of Non-Standard Fuels.
For a copy of both these guidelines and general information on the reuse of waste, please refer to the Resource recovery exemptions page.
Landfill guidelines
- Environmental guidelines: Solid waste landfills (solidlandfill.pdf, 275 KB), including Table of environmentally sensitive areas (58 KB)
- Draft environmental guidelines for industrial waste landfilling (industrialfill.pdf, 228 KB) - Please note: 'industrial' waste is now classified as 'restricted' waste in accordance with the Waste Classification Guidelines which became effective from 28 April 2008.