The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: farmershort on August 31, 2016, 03:06:47 pm

Title: Waste exemption license - £840 for 3 years!!!
Post by: farmershort on August 31, 2016, 03:06:47 pm

Hi All,

I'm after a bit of advice regarding some post we've just recieved. As some will know, we moved into our Devon smallholding about a month ago, and we've just had some post regarding the renewal of a waste exemption license for the property. I assume the previous owners took it out, and it seems to be regarding the burning of untreated plant material on site.

To renew this for another 3 years apparently costs £840!!!! That's an awful lot of money for a bit of admin, so I assume it's sort of a "fine" or perhaps "carbon tax"?

Is this worth bothering with? Are we really going to get in trouble for burning hedge cuttings etc?

Thanks

Adam

Title: Re: Waste exemption license - £840 for 3 years!!!
Post by: Scotsdumpy on August 31, 2016, 05:21:26 pm

I think a waste exemption licence is different to a burning licence. In Scotland you can apply online and get permission immediately for burning. In our case it included tree prunings, weeds ie ragwort and silage plastic. I hope someone in your area will offer some additional advice.

Title: Re: Waste exemption license - £840 for 3 years!!!
Post by: farmershort on September 01, 2016, 09:59:10 am

Thanks for that -Sadly the rules do seem to differ quite a lot between england and scotland as a general rule - I'd imagine waste exemption would be similarly different.

Title: Re: Waste exemption license - £840 for 3 years!!!
Post by: Maggy on September 01, 2016, 10:58:03 am

It may be worth talking to the folks that issue the exemption license & checking it is exactly what you need.  I have just been granted an exemption from having a permit here in Wales (& yes I know it's probably different in England!) which cost nothing; however other exemptions do cost - for instance one that includes burning waste from other people's hedgerows.  I presume that would be because that would be waste disposal on the way to being "commercial".

Title: Re: Waste exemption license - £840 for 3 years!!!
Post by: stufe35 on September 01, 2016, 12:12:45 pm

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-waste-exemptions-environmental-permits#how-much-an-exemption-costs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-waste-exemptions-environmental-permits#how-much-an-exemption-costs)

Here is a link which seems to indicate all exemptions are free except for those in connection with WEE.

Any way you should be able to work things out from this website.