Composting in an open system less than or equal to 500 tonnes

1. The Authorised Person must have a written management system in place.

2. The Authorised Person must regularly carry out a review of the management system and its effectiveness in terms of achieving compliance with the conditions of the authorisation.

3. Only the waste types listed in Table 1 can be accepted at the Authorised Place.

   Table 1. Waste codes for open composting

   Waste Code	Authorised Wastes
   02 01 03	Plant-tissue waste
   02 01 06	Animal faeces, urine and manure (including spoiled straw)
   02 01 07	Wastes from forestry
   02 01 99	Straw, wood or paper–based bedding waste, slurry or dirty water from stables, zoos, animal parks or livestock market
   02 03 01	Sludges from washing, cleaning, peeling, centrifuging and separation
   03 01 01	Waste bark and cork
   03 01 05	Sawdust, shavings, cuttings, wood
   04 02 10	Organic matter from natural products (for example grease, wax)
   15 01 01	Paper and cardboard packaging
   15 01 03	Wooden packaging
   15 01 09	Textile packaging
   19 01 18	Biochar produced from the pyrolysis of the following waste codes: 02 01 03 - untreated plant tissue waste from agriculture, horticulture and forestry activities 02 01 07 - untreated wood waste from forestry activities 02 03 04 - vegetable waste unsuitable for consumption or processing 03 01 01 - untreated waste bark and cork 03 01 05 - untreated sawdust, wood shavings and wood cuttings 03 03 01 - untreated waste bark and wood
   19 05 03	Off-specification compost consisting only of biodegradable waste
   20 01 01	Paper and cardboard
   20 01 10	Clothes
   20 01 11	Textiles
   20 02 01	Biodegradable waste
   20 03 02	Botanical waste from markets

4. All waste accepted at the Authorised Place must be inspected to ensure it meets the types and quantities authorised.

5. Waste identified at the Authorised Place which is not authorised must be: 

   1. stored on an impermeable surface with a sealed drainage system,  
   2. stored separately from other waste; and 
   3. removed from the Authorised Place as soon as reasonably practicable.

6. Wastes with the following characteristics must not be accepted at the Authorised Place:

   1. waste significantly contaminated with non-compostable materials.
   2. catering waste and other waste containing animal by-products covered by the Animal By-products (Scotland) Regulations 2013 (except waste code 02 01 06).
   3. waste consisting solely or mainly of dusts (except sawdust), powders or loose fibres.
   4. liquid waste other than liquids produced by the treatment process.
   5. waste containing post-consumer wood, treated wood, wood-preserving agents or other biocides.
   6. waste containing Japanese Knotweed or any other invasive non-native plant species.
   7. pest infested waste.

7. All reasonable precautions must be taken to ensure that

   1. the waste cannot escape and
   2. members of the public are unable to gain access to the waste.

8. All waste storage areas must be clearly labelled to allow the identification of:

   1. The waste type(s) being stored; and
   2. The hazards presented by each waste type.

9. All storage and treatment activities must be carried out on an impermeable surface that drains to a sealed drainage system.

10. All liquid waste produced on site must be stored within:

    1. an impermeable lagoon,  
    2. a sealed sump, or  
    3. a sealed container.  

11. All liquid waste stored in containers must be within a secondary containment system, which must:

    1. hold at least:
       1. for a single container, 110% of its capacity; or
       2. for two or more containers, the greater of:
          1. 110% of the capacity of the largest container; or
          2. 25% of the capacity of all containers together. 
    2. catch all spills from the container(s) and related parts,
    3. be leak-proof,
    4. be located, and/or protected, to prevent damage as far as reasonably practicable, and
    5. have any spills and/or rainwater removed as soon as reasonably practicable. 

12. Treatment and batch formation of waste must be carried out as soon as reasonably practicable after it is received to prevent uncontrolled decomposition and anaerobic conditions. 

13. All reasonably practicable measures must be taken to remove non-compostable fractions from the waste prior to processing. 

14. Oversize material must be stored on site in a manner to prevent re-heating. 

15. All storage and treatment activities must be carried out in a manner that prevents anaerobic conditions. 

16. Measures must be taken to prevent, or where that is not practicable, minimise:

    1. odour;
    2. noise;
    3. dust;
    4. litter; and
    5. the presence of vermin;

    arising from the authorised activities.

17. Offensive odours from the authorised activities as perceived by a SEPA Officer must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place. 

18. Noise from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.

19. Dust from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.

20. Litter from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.

21. Bioaerosols from the authorised activities, which have a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place. 

22. Waste must not be burned at the Authorised Place.

23. SEPA must be notified via its pollution hotline contact telephone number as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours of identification of an event, of any of the following: 

    1. an event that has caused or could cause adverse impact to the environment or harm to human health;
    2. an event that results, or could result, in an emission to the environment that is not authorised;
    3. an event that has caused a breach of a condition of this authorisation.  

    In this condition, the meaning of ‘event’ is as defined in the Interpretation of Terms of this authorisation.

24. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment. 

25. Within 14 days of an event a report must be submitted to SEPA detailing:

    1. The reason(s) for the event;
    2. the action(s) taken to stop the event and minimise the impacts; and
    3. the action(s) taken to prevent the event from recurring.

26. All information recorded, kept or submitted to SEPA in accordance with a condition of this authorisation must be:

    1. true and accurate;
    2. kept for a minimum of six years; and
    3. provided to SEPA upon request.

27. For each calendar year the information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA on or before 28 January the following year.

28. The information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA via email, in the excel spreadsheet supplied by SEPA, to waste.data@sepa.org.uk

You can apply to vary an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or transferring an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

• R-WAS-C1 - Composting in an open system less than or equal to 500 tonnes

Step 2: Submit your application for a variation

Make an application to vary an authorisation

You can apply to transfer an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or varying an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

• R-WAS-C1 - Composting in an open system less than or equal to 500 tonnes

Step 2: Submit your application

Read Transfer an existing authorisation to find out how to submit your application for a transfer.

To apply to surrender an existing registration that authorises this activity, read Surrender an existing authorisation