What the legislation says
20 (1) Laundering or otherwise cleaning waste textiles with a view to their recovery or reuse.
20 (2) The storage of waste textiles at the place where they are to be so laundered or cleaned.
What this means
Paragraph 20 (1) allows waste textiles to be cleaned for recovery or re-use.
Paragraph 20 (2) allows storage of these wastes at the place where they are to be laundered.
Questions and answers
Relating to this exemption to help you understand if it covers the type of activity that you wish to undertake.
Paragraph 1 (1)
Q. What can I do?
A. You can recover waste textiles by cleaning.
Q. Who can do it?
A. Any company, organisation or individual that registers with us, an activity that is exempt under Paragraph 20 (1). By individuals we mean those acting in a business capacity, such as a sole trader. The law does not require an individual acting in a personal capacity to register an exemption.
Q. Where can I do it?
A. At the place or places which you identify when you register the exemption.
Q. What kinds of waste are included in this exemption?
A. This exemption applies only to textiles.
Paragraph 1 (2)
Q. What can I do?
A. You can store the textiles that you intend to recover.
Q. Where can you store them?
A. Only at the place where they will be laundered.
Example of an activity that is suitable for registration under the Paragraph 20 (1) (2) exemption
- A company collects discarded textiles from household waste sites which are sorted and, where they are suitable for re-sale, are cleaned.
The company would need to register a Paragraph 20 exemption at the place where the cleaning and storing is undertaken. The sorting of the textiles should also be registered under the Paragraph 11 exemption.
Example of an activity that is not suitable for registration under the Paragraph 20 (1) (2) exemption
- An establishment collects waste textiles at its depot, which are sorted and despatched elsewhere.
The sorting activity does not qualify for a Paragraph 20 exemption. It may be permissible under Paragraph 11.
Have you read and understood what you can and cannot do under this exemption?
Do you think you meet the requirements of the Paragraph 20 exemption and wish to proceed with your registration? You need to be confident that you understand and can comply with the terms of the exemption before you apply.
Yes
You can post your completed form back to us, or email it to Environment Agency entering 'Exemption' or Exemptions' in the subject box.
Alternatively you can request a form in the post or register your exempt activity over the phone by calling our National Customer Contact Centre on 08708 506506.
No
Return to the full list of simple exemptions.
