8no. new Standard Rules (SR) permits that whilst being dated 2022 came into effect 18th Dec 2024 and are listed below. These 8no. replace or rather consolidate the also listed below 28no. of the existing SR permits. The replaced 28no. are withdrawn and will automatically transition to the new corresponding rules.
The EA were operating to a scheduled 3no. month transition period for operators to be compliant with the corresponding new SR permit set of conditions. If a site is unable to comply with the new SR set of conditions, then they similarly had 3no. months to apply for a Bespoke permit. The EA have subsequently issued a Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 331 extending the transition and accordingly compliance period by a further 3no. months to 27th June 2025. However, requests to further extend this date can be considered by the EA on a site by site basis.
Amalgamation of the 28no. now withdrawn permits is intended to streamline the permitting processes and aligns older conditions sets with modern standards. The Environment Agency’s aim is that the 8no. new (2022 dated) SR permits address several key issues:
· Some SR sets needed to be updated to modern standards and conditions.
· Some rule sets were not being used and others duplicated.
· There was a need to incorporate ‘appropriate measures’ that should now be considered by facilities permitted to store, treat or transfer non-hazardous and inert waste.
· Waste codes have been added to some permits due to changes in classification of wastes (e.g. cable 17 04 11).
· There have been some changes in how wastes are coded since the original permits were drafted.
· There have been some increases in tonnages and storage limits.
Principal changes:
· Annual throughput limits
· Storage limits
· Storage timeframes and containment
· The European Waste Catalogue (EWC) / List of Waste (LoW) codes and descriptions that can be accepted
· The activities permitted to be undertaken
· Infrastructure requirements including site surfacing and building requirements depending on location and activity
· Location restrictions, including changes to minimum distances from sensitive receptors (e.g. sites of special scientific interest, local wildlife sites, scheduled monuments, watercourses)
The 8no. new permits have specific Operator Competence Scheme qualification requirements and accordingly the Risk Tier Table for sites has been updated. Each operator has to check their CoTC cover to determine if additional units or qualifications are needed to maintain technical competence required for their new SR permit.