>Standard Rules Permits

The Environment Agency have developed Standard Rules permits for activities that apply to certain waste types dealt with in a relatively consistent way so as to simplify the process of application which must now be done online.

Activities and wastes that fall outside the Standard Rules must be dealt with through either a Bespoke Permit or an Installation Permit (where more than 10 tonnes of hazardous waste are received per day).

Standard rules permits are listed here and below.

Biological treatment of waste

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2008 No 16 25kte and 75kte: composting in open systems (no longer available)
2. SR2008 No 17: 75kte composting in closed systems (in-vessel composting)
3. SR2008 No 18: 75kte non hazardous mechanical biological (aerobic) treatment facility (existing permits)
4. SR2015 No 12: 75kte non-hazardous mechanical biological (aerobic) treatment facility
5. SR2008 No 19: 75kte non-hazardous sludge biological chemical and physical treatment site
6. SR2008 No 19: 250kte non-hazardous sludge biological chemical and physical treatment site
7. SR2009 No 4: combustion of biogas in engines at a sewage treatment works
8. SR2010 No 14: 500t composting biodegradable waste
9. SR2010 No 15: anaerobic digestion facility including use of the resultant biogas
10. SR2010 No 16: on-farm anaerobic digestion facility
11. SR2010 No 18: storage and treatment of dredgings for recovery
12. SR2011 No 1: 500t composting biodegradable waste (in open and closed systems)
13. SR2012 No 3: composting in closed systems
14. SR2012 No 7: composting in open systems
15. SR2012 No 10: on-farm anaerobic digestion facility using farm wastes only, including use of the resultant biogas
16. SR2012 No 12: anaerobic digestion facility including use of the resultant biogas (waste recovery operation)

Flood risk activities

Standard rules permits for flood risk activities

1. SR2015 No 26: temporary dewatering affecting up to 20 metres of a main river
2. SR2015 No 27: constructing an outfall pipe up to 500mm diameter through a headwall into a main river
3. SR2015 No 28: installing a clear span bridge
4. SR2015 No 29: temporary storage on a flood plain of a main river
5. SR2015 No 30: temporary diversion of a main river
6. SR2015 No 31: channel habitat structure made of natural materials
7. SR2015 No 32: installing an access culvert no more than 5 metres long
8. SR2015 No 33: repairing and protecting up to 20 metres of main river bank
9. SR2015 No 34: temporary scaffolding affecting up to 20 metres of a main river
10. SR2015 No 35: excavating a wetland or pond in a main river floodplain
11. SR2015 No 36: site investigation boreholes and temporary trial pits
12. SR2015 No 38: removing 100 metres of exposed gravel from bars and shoals
13. SR2019 No 1: installation of mooring pile in a main river
14. SR2019 No 2: steps, ramps and other similar structures excavated into the existing bank profile of a main river
15. SR2019 No 3: installation of water gates across a main river

Installations

1. SR2012 No 4: composting in closed systems
2. SR2012 No 8: composting in open systems
3. SR2012 No 9: on-farm anaerobic digestion using farm wastes
4. SR2012 No 11: anaerobic digestion facility including use of the resultant biogas
5. SR2012 No 13: treatment of incinerator bottom ash (IBA)

Low impact installation

1. SR2009 No 2: low impact part A installation
2. SR2009 No 3: low impact part A installation for the production of biodiesel

Keeping/transfer of waste

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2008 No 1: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station (existing permits)
2. SR2015 No 4: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station
3. SR2008 No 2: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station (no building) (existing permits)
4. SR2015 No 5: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station (no building)
5. SR2008 No 3: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment (existing permits)
6. SR2015 No 6: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment
7. SR2008 No 4: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment (no building)
8. SR2015 No 7: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment (no building)
9. SR2008 No 5: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station and asbestos storage (existing permits)
10. SR2015 No 8: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with asbestos storage
11. SR2008 No 6: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with asbestos storage (no building) (existing permits)
12. SR2015 No 9: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with asbestos storage
13. SR2008 No 7: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer stations with treatment and asbestos storage
14. SR2015 No 10: 75kte household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment and asbestos storage
15. SR2008 No 8: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment and asbestos storage (no building) (existing permits)
16. SR2015 No 11: household, commercial and industrial waste transfer station with treatment and asbestos storage
17. SR2008 No 9: asbestos waste transfer station
18. SR2008 No 10: 75kte inert and excavation waste transfer station (existing permits)
19. SR2008 No 11: 75kte inert and excavation waste transfer station with treatment
20. SR2008 No 24: 75Kte clinical waste and healthcare waste transfer station
21. SR2008 No 25: 75kte clinical waste and healthcare waste treatment and transfer station (existing permits)
22. SR2009 No 5: inert and excavation waste transfer station below 250kte (existing permits)
23. SR2009 No 6: inert and excavation waste transfer station with treatment below 250kte (existing permits)
24. SR2012 No 15: storage of electrical insulating oils
25. SR2010 No 17: storage of wastes to be used in land treatment
26. SR2013 No 1: treat 100 tonnes a year of clinical and healthcare waste

Materials recovery and recycling

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2008 No 12 75kte: non hazardous household waste amenity site (existing permits)
2. SR2015 No 19: 75kte non-hazardous household waste amenity site
3. SR2008 No 13 75kte: non-hazardous and hazardous household waste amenity site (existing permits)
4. SR2015 No.20: 75kte non-hazardous and hazardous household waste amenity site
5. SR2008 No 14 75kte: materials recycling facility
6. SR2015 No 21: 75kte materials recycling facility
7. SR2008 No 15: materials recycling facility (no building) (existing permits)
8. SR2015 No 22: materials recycling facility
9. SR2011 No 4: treatment of waste wood for recovery (existing permits)
10. SR2015 No 23: treatment of waste wood for recovery

Medium combustion plant and specified generators

1. SR2018 No 1: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation between 0 – 5 MWth
2. SR2018 No 2: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation 0 – 2 MWth with high background NOx
3. SR2018 No 3: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation 0 – 2 MWth in Air Quality Management Areas or high ambient NOx
4. SR2018 No 4: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, 0 – 20 MWth of gas or abated diesel engines operated less than 500 hours a year
5. SR2018 No 5: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, 0 – 20 MWth of gas or abated diesel engines operated less than 1,500 hours a year
6. SR2018 No 6: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation 0 – 1.3 MWth with high background NOx
7. SR2018 No 7: New, low risk, stationary Medium Combustion Plant 1 < 20MWth (in operation after 20/12/2018)
8. SR2018 No 8: mobile plant Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation <1 – 2 MWth
9. SR2018 No 9: Specified Generator, Tranche B low risk, base load operation between 0 - 0.9 MWth

Metal recovery/scrap metal

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2012 No 14: metal recycling, vehicle storage, depollution and dismantling facility (existing permits)
2. SR2015 No 18: metal recycling, vehicle storage, depollution and dismantling facility
3. SR2008 No 20: 25kte vehicle storage, depollution and dismantling (authorised treatment) facility (existing permits)
4. SR2015 No 13: 25kte vehicle storage depollution and dismantling (authorised treatment) facility
5. SR2011 No 2: metal recycling site (existing permits)
6. SR2015 No 16: metal recycling site
7. SR2008 No 21: 75kte metal recycling site (existing permits)
8. SR2015 No 14: 75kte metal recycling site
9. SR2009 No 7: storage of furnace ready scrap metal for recovery
10. SR2008 No 22: 75kte storage of furnace ready scrap metal for recovery
11. SR2008 No 23: 75kte WEEE ATF excluding ozone depleting substances
12. SR2015 No 15: 75kte WEEE authorised treatment facility excluding ozone depleting substances
13. SR2015 No 3: metal recycling and WEEE authorised treatment facility excluding ozone depleting substances
14. SR2011 No 3: vehicle storage depollution and dismantling (authorised treatment) facility (existing permits)
15. SR2015 No 17: vehicle storage depollution and dismantling authorised treatment facility

Onshore oil and gas exploration, and mining operation

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2009 No 8: management of inert wastes and unpolluted soil at mines and quarries
2. SR2014 No 2: management of extractive waste
3. SR2015 No 2: storing and handling crude oil
4. SR2015 No 1: onshore oil exploration

Radioactive substances for non-nuclear sites

1. SR2010 No 1: category 5 sealed radioactive sources
2. SR2014 No 4: NORM waste from oil and gas production
3. SR2017 No1: Unintentional receipt of radioactive materials and radioactive waste by the operator of any facility which uses a radiation detection system

Recovery or use of waste on land

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2015 No 39: use of waste in a deposit for recovery operations
2. SR2008 No 27: mobile plant for treatment of soils and contaminated material, substances or products
3. SR2010 No 4: mobile plant for land-spreading
4. SR2010 No 5: mobile plant for reclamation, restoration or land improvement
5. SR2010 No 6: mobile plant for land-spreading of sewage sludge
6. SR2010 No 7: 50kte use of waste in construction
7. SR2010 No 8: use of waste in construction
8. SR2010 No 9: use of waste for reclamation, restoration or improvement of land
9. SR2010 No 10: use of waste for reclamation, restoration or improvement of land

Treatment to produce aggregate or construction materials

Apply for a standard rules environmental permit.

1. SR2010 No 11: mobile plant for treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregate
2. SR2010 No 12: treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregate
3. SR2010 No 13: use of waste to manufacture timber or construction products
4. SR2015 No 24: use of waste to manufacture timber or construction products

Water discharges

The annual permit fee (‘subsistence’) for standard water discharge permits starts from the date the permit is issued, so you should not apply for a permit significantly ahead of when it’s required.

As well as the 2 standard permits listed in this section, standard permit SR2008No27 (mobile plant for the treatment of soils and contaminated material, substances or products) can also apply to water discharges, although it’s listed in recovery or use of waste on land. Check whether you qualify for that permit too.

There are currently no standard rules permits for sewage effluent to ground or groundwater.

1. SR2010 No 2: discharge to surface water
2. SR2010 No 3: discharge to surface water