UK charging schemes
This is an overview of UK Charging Schemes administered by SEPA in Scotland.
You can also read about SEPA charging schemes.
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH)
The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) page provides detailed information on these regulations, including:
- who enforces COMAH
- whether COMAH regulations apply to you
- operator responsibilities under the regulations
- resources and guidance
Charge rates
The hourly charge out rate is £221 (per inspector hour).
Administrative and financial arrangements
Timesheets are generated for all chargeable time and these accompany invoices to operators. Operators are invoiced in arrears at the end of each financial quarter:
- 30 June
- 30 September
- 31 December
- 31 March
Special waste
The special waste page provides detailed information on Special Waste Consignment Notes (SWCN), the unique codes and guidance.
Charge rates
All formats of consignment notes must bear a unique code, supplied by SEPA, consisting of two letters (prefixes) SA, SB or SC and a series of numbers, for example SA 1234567.
- SA, £15 each
- SB, £10 each
- SC, £0 (free of charge)
Special waste notes refund policy
SEPA’s policy on ‘refunds’ or the issuing of ‘credit’ on cancelled and unused codes and SEPA-issued SWCNs is as follows:
Unused codes
SEPA may issue a credit for unused codes purchased from us where the code has not been, and will not be, received by SEPA and/or no waste has been moved.
Where a pre-purchased code is notified to SEPA but no waste is moved, no refund/credit will be issued because SEPA has carried out work in assessing and entering the return.
All requests for credit will be handled by the SEPA Finance Department. Please contact swcnorder@sepa.org.uk.
Producer responsibility, packaging waste
Our packaging waste page explains who is affected by these regulations, what actions are required, and how SEPA regulates compliance in Scotland.
It also outlines:
- how to report data
- how to work with reprocessors and exporters
- where to find further guidance
You can view charging information in The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 legislation under Schedule 1 charges.