The new Standard Rules 2022 No.1 (SR2022 No. 1) permit, introduced by the Environment Agency on the 18th December 2024, covers the treatment of waste to produce soil, soil substitutes and aggregates. It replaces several earlier standard rule permits, including SR2008 No. 11 and SR2010 No. 12 and 2009 No.6, as part of a wider Government initiative to review and streamline environmental permitting.
Existing permit holders have a transition period until 27th June, 2025, to adapt to the new requirements. This period allows operators to implement any necessary changes and ensure compliance with the updated standards. The transition period is also relevant for those operators who cannot comply with the new SR2022 No.1 standard rules permit (for example, their site doesn’t meet the new location criteria or they can’t operate using the required techniques). Those operators will need to apply for a bespoke permit by 27th June, 2025, and adhere to the old permit until the new variation is determined. To assist with the transition to SR2022 No.1, we have highlighted below the two areas of key differences between the old and new permits:
Generic Rules: The new rules permit:
- Up to 75,000 tonnes or 250,000 tonnes of certain wastes to be accepted at the site per year, depending on EWC code;
- Up to 10,000 or 50,000 tonnes of certain waste to be stored on site at any time, depending on EWC code;
- If the site is within 200 metres of a workplace or residential property, treatment must be carried out either within a building or in accordance with the specified rules (see below);
- Certain wastes are required to be stored, treated and handled on an impermeable surface with a sealed drainage system when located within a groundwater source protection zone 2.
The main changes to note here are the increased tonnage allowance up to 250,000 tonnes per year (for EWC codes specified within certain tables within the permit) and the new rule if the site is within 200 metres of a workplace or building. This rule requires treatment to be carried out within a building unless specific measures can be adhered to that relate to the reduction and control of emissions from operations, i.e. enclosures or hoods on feed hoppers and the requirement for dust suppression. The new rules also provide absolute clarity that 2022 No.1 does not allow the washing of soils/aggregates.
Location criteria: The new permit includes additional location criteria that are intended to improve environmental and amenity protection. For instance, operations under SR2022 No. 1 must not be within:
- 50 metres of a site that has species or habitats protected under the Biodiversity Action Plan that the Environment Agency considers at risk from this activity;
- 10 metres of a watercourse;
- a groundwater source protection zone 1.
The upshot of the new location criteria is that many sites with the replaced standard rules permits will no longer be able to meet the new rules due to their location. Overall, SR2022 No. 1 is intended to reflect the Environment Agency’s commitment to reviewing and updating waste regulations, improve environmental and amenity protection, and to simplify the environmental permitting process. If you have any queries about the new standard rules, you can contact the Environment Agency directly (enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk) or your Environmental Consultant for advice on how to achieve compliance.
