Standard rules consultation No.20: revision of standard rules sets for biowaste treatment

Overview

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 allow us to offer standard permits to reduce the administrative burden on business whilst maintaining environmental standards. This consultation proposes revising the standard rules sets for biowaste including anaerobic digestion, composting and sewage sludge treatment. We also propose to withdraw some rule sets.

There are currently 21 rule sets listed for biowaste treatment facilities. We propose to reduce the number of standard rules by transposing like for like activity. We therefore are only presenting examples for the following:

Waste facilities

• Open windrow, < 75 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2012 No 7)
• In vessel composting < 75 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2012 No3)
• On farm Anaerobic Digestion <100 tonnes per day (SR2012 No 10)
• Waste Anaerobic Digestion < 100 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2012 No 12)

Installations

• Open windrow, > 75 tonnes in treatment per day  (SR2012 No 8)
• In vessel composting > 75 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2012 No4)
• On farm Anaerobic Digestion >100 tonnes per day (SR2012 No9)
• Waste Anaerobic Digestion > 100 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2012 No 11)
• Sludge Anaerobic Digestion > 100 tonnes in treatment per day (SR2008 No 19)

We also propose merging the existing small scale composting site to one rule set and present a proposal of how this may look. (SR2010 No 14)

Why your views matter

We are consulting to seek your views on the proposed changes to the rule sets and that they will limit any negative impacts on human health, communities and the environment from biowaste activities. The proposed changes come as a result of our review of biowaste permits, and our review of incidents and audit data from anaerobic digestion plants.

Our consultation document explains our proposals and the key revisions to the rule sets.

Responding To The Consultation

Please click on the link below to answer the consultation questions. 

However, if you prefer, you can submit your response by email or post by downloading the response form (below) and sending it to:

Future Regulation - Permitting (Standard Rules Consultation)
Environment Agency
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

Or email: standard-rules@environment-agency.gov.uk