Following the introduction of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2006, which came into force on 15th May 2006, farmers have until 15th May 2007 to register exemptions that allow them to store or dispose of waste on their holding.

Mark Juniper, Farm Business Consultant of Strutt and Parker is reminding farmers to progress registration of these exemptions at the earliest opportunity to ensure compliance.

Mr Juniper says “time is fast running out to register exemptions to ensure compliance under the Regulations and with the Single Payment application deadline fast approaching it is important that farmers allow sufficient time to obtain and complete the necessary paperwork”.

The most common exemptions likely to be encountered on farms include:

burning plant waste tissue in the open (including logs, branches, untreated timber, cereal straws)

deposit of plant tissue at the place of production (including spoiled crops or screenings)

beneficial use of waste (for example use of tyres on the silage clamp or waste paper as animal bedding)

storing waste intended for recycling or recovery in a secure place (for old pesticide containers, fertiliser bags etc)

spreading of waste on land for agricultural benefit or ecological improvement (such as spreading of compost or dredgings).

Exemptions are split between simple exemptions and complex exemptions. Simple exemptions only have to be registered once, whilst for complex exemptions, annual notification to the Environment Agency is required.

Juniper says “It is important to remember that failure to register exemptions means that storing waste will be in breach of the regulations and seen as an offence with the potential to result in significant financial penalties being levied upon farmers.”

Juniper concludes “Farmers need to remember that there are two important application deadlines on May 15 this year, those being; registration of exemptions to dispose of waste and Single Payment registration – make sure that you meet them both”.