08 May 2009

Environment Agency - Home

Standard permits

Our standard rules are listed below. For each facility there is a set of rules, guidance on how to comply with the rules and a risk assessment.

For each waste facility, we tell you the types and volumes of waste you can accept, how it can be treated and how it must be stored. We also place limits on the proximity of your activity to neighbouring sites and specify whether any point source emissions are allowed. In addition we state if the facility cannot be located within a specified Air Quality Management Area.

Applying for a standard permit saves you time and money. However, before you decide to apply you need to be aware of some important characteristics:

  • You cannot vary the rules and you have no right of appeal against them; 
  • If you want to change your operations so that a standard permit no longer works for your operation you will have to apply to change your permit to make it bespoke instead;
  • If there is a change in your local environment after your permit has been issued (for example due to housing encroachment), you may be required to upgrade the operation to a standard sufficient for the changed environment, or apply to change to a bespoke permit.

A standard permit can include more than one set of rules, so you can have one permit for a number of facilities. For example you could have one standard permit to operate a transfer station, a metal recycling site and a Waste, Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) treatment facility.

Standard permit facilities

Read through the list of standard rules sets below. If the activity you want to undertake seems to be covered by one of the standard rules, select the link and read carefully through the full standard rules set and associated generic risks assessment.

Make sure you understand the standard rules set, that it describes exactly what you want to do and that you will be able to meet the requirements of the rules. If you cannot comply with any of the standard rules, you must apply for a bespoke permit.

What does it cost?

Our charges page will explain how much a standard permit will cost you.