The Environment Act 2021 gives regulators the power to charge for regulatory activities and from July 2025 waste exemptions in England are no longer free to register. Most organisations will now have to pay a £56 registration fee and a separate compliance charge. Waste exemptions will continue to be applicable for a period of 3 years.
Compliance bands
The cost of the compliance charge depends on which band the exemption is in.
There are 4 bands:
- Upper band – £1,236 (this band applies to T8, T9 and U16 exemptions only)
- Band 1 – £420
- Band 2 – £212
- Band 3 – £30
The compliance charge has been implemented to cover the Environment Agency’s costs for checking that exemption conditions are followed.
Discounts for multiple registrations
If more than one exemption is registered in bands upper, 1 and 2, a discount is given. The full compliance charge is paid for the most expensive exemption, and a discounted charge for every additional exemption in bands upper, 1 and 2.
There is no discount for band 3 exemptions
Exclusions to the charges
Charities and those applying for T28 exemptions for medical waste are excluded from waste exemption charges and will see no change.
The T11 waste exemption: repairing or refurbishing waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is also not included in the charging bands and continues to cost £1,221 to register for 3 years.
Specific exceptions for farming activities also apply. Farmers can register what are deemed as ‘farming exemptions’ for an £88 capped compliance charge, if they are registered to their farm.
