Regulatory Decision 099: Waste collection authorities - when you can operate additional temporary collection sites without an environmental permit
This Regulatory Decision (RD) is valid until 1 June 2025 by which time it will be reviewed. You should check back at that time to ensure the RD is still valid.
NRW can withdraw or amend this RD before the review date if we consider it necessary. This includes where the activities that this RD relates to have not changed.
Regulatory Decision
Waste collection authorities or their contracted providers sometimes cannot carry out normal household waste collections due to bad weather, for example. They may ask people to take their household waste to a temporary waste collection centre. Waste will be kept at these sites in containers before being delivered into the usual waste management system.
This Regulatory Decision (RD) allows waste collection authorities to operate additional temporary collection sites without an environmental permit.
If you cannot comply with the conditions in this RD, you need to apply for an environmental permit.
Conditions you must comply with
You must meet these conditions to comply with this RD.
You must:
- agree the list of additional sites to be used, and the start and finish dates, with Natural Resources Wales before any waste is accepted
- have people on site during operational hours
- place waste directly into containers and not store it on the ground
- make sure the site is secure
You must not:
- accept asbestos or oil - these waste types must be taken to a suitably permitted site
- keep waste on site overnight
Enforcement
This RD does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when operating additional temporary collection sites without an environmental permit.
However, NRW will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with the need for an environmental permit if you meet the requirements in this RD.
In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest