Material Facilities Code of Practice
If you operate a material facility you must comply with the statutory Code of Practice on Sampling and Reporting at Material Facilities (the Code).
This includes notifying SEPA if you are in scope and complying with the sampling, recording and reporting requirements in the Code.
Determining whether your material facility is in scope
Not all material facilities are in scope of the Code; your facility may be in scope if you:
- hold an authorisation from SEPA
- handle dry recyclable waste (DRW). DRW is defined as separately collected glass, metal, plastic, paper, card or fibre based composite material.
- consolidate DRW into bulk quantities from two or more suppliers
- sort DRW into output materials, such as aluminium, PET bottles or cardboard
If your facility is likely to receive 1,000 tonnes or more of DRW in the next 12 months, you must notify MFCode@sepa.org.uk immediately that your facility is in scope and agree a timescale for commencement of sampling and reporting.
Guidance is available to help you determine if your facility is in scope of the Code.
Sampling requirements
Your sampling requirements are set out in the Code and supporting guidance is available.
The guidance provides practical advice on taking and analysing samples, and describes the typical equipment used. The guidance also includes information on developing a sampling methodology, performing off site sampling and the use of visual detection and recognition technologies.
Reporting requirements
Your recording and reporting requirements are set out in the Code.
The data must be reported to SEPA using the materials facility return form. Guidance is available to help you complete the return form.
Completed forms should be emailed to waste.data@sepa.org.uk.
The data reported will be provided to the Scheme Administrator for the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging programme.