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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • The spreading, or storage and spreading of sludge on land which is not land used for agriculture - paragraph 10(a) exemption

    Topics:
    • Resource & Waste Policy, 
    • Waste management licensing exemptions (list)

    Paragraph 10(a) allows the storage and spreading of sewage sludge on land which is not land used for agriculture within the meaning of The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 if the spreading results in ecological improvement or, in the case of spreading on land used for non-food crops not grown in short rotation with food crops, it results in benefit to agriculture.

    Waste stream(s) permitted

    Sewage sludge

    Quantity

    The quantity of waste spread will be determined by the crop requirement and be based on the soil and waste analyses where the spreading will be carried out in accordance with the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990.

    Storage

    If sludge is to be stored prior to spreading, it must be stored at the place where it is to be spread and must not be stored for a period of more than 6 months.

    Storage must be in a secure container or lagoon or, in the case of dewatered sludge, in a secure place on land.

    Additional conditions

    The spreading of sewage sludge must result in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement and you must submit a certificate describing how the spreading activity will achieve this. The certificate must be prepared by or based on advice from a person with appropriate technical or professional expertise.

    Benefit to agriculture shall be assessed by reference to whether the spreading will result in an improvement to the soil for the purpose of growing non-food crops not grown in short rotation with food crops.

    Ecological improvement shall be assessed by reference to the extent to which wildlife habitats, which might otherwise deteriorate, are maintained or supported. The creation of a new habitat or the restoration of an old habitat shall be considered an improvement.

    The following information contained in Part II of Schedule 2 of This Waste Management Licensing regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (as amended) is required for the registration of an exemption under Paragraph 10

    • the names, addresses and telephone numbers, and, if applicable, the fax numbers and e-mail addresses of the establishment or undertaking that is to store or spread the sludge and the establishment or undertaking supplying the sludge
    • the quantity of sludge to be stored or spread and its origin
    • information on how the sludge has been treated and where it has been treated
    • the location in which the sludge is to be stored or spread, including a description of any container or lagoon to be used
    • the locations of any buildings, public rights of way, abstraction points or surface waters above ordinance datum which are situated within 400 metres of the boundaries of that place
    • where sludge is to be spread, the application shall be accompanied by a certificate describing how the activity will result in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement, which shall be prepared by or based on advice from a person with appropriate technical or professional expertise

    What the legislation says

    The full wording of the paragraph 10 exemption can be found in Schedule 2 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

    More detailed information on this exemption can be found in the guidance documents below.

    For storage and spreading on non-agricultural land you should apply for a Paragraph 10a exemption.

    For storage of sludge to allow the spreading on Agricultural land under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990, you should apply for a Paragraph 10b exemption.

    Relevant Objectives in relation to the disposal or recovery of waste are given in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Regulations.

    Should you have any queries in relation to your application please contact:-

    • Regulation Unit

    Forms and guidance

    • Paragraph 10(a) specific guidance
    • Record keeping templates
    • General guidance
    • you can also apply online here

    Related content

    • Burning of waste as a fuel - paragraph 5 exemption
    • Burning of waste as a fuel in an appliance with a net rated thermal input of less than 0.4 megawatts - paragraph 7 exemption
    • Cleaning, washing, spraying or coating of waste packaging or containers - paragraph 6 exemption
    • Land treatment for agricultural benefit or ecological improvement - paragraph 9 exemption
    • Operation of a scrap metal furnace under a Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) permit - paragraph 4 exemption
    • Operation of a scrap metal furnace under an IPC authorisation - paragraph 3 exemption
    • The baling, compacting, crushing, shredding or pulverising of waste at the place of production - paragraph 27 exemption
    • The beneficial use of waste - paragraph 16 exemption
    • The burial of a dead domestic pet in the garden of a domestic property where the pet lived - paragraph 37 exemption
    • The burial on premises of sanitary waste arising from the use on those premises of a sanitary convenience which is equipped with a removable receptacle - paragraph 32 exemption
    • The burning of waste at a dock - paragraph 47 exemption
    • The burning of waste on land in the open - paragraph 30 exemption
    • The chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising waste plant matter - paragraph 21 exemption
    • The composting and storage of biodegradable waste - paragraph 13 exemption
    • The crushing of waste gas discharge lamps - paragraph 51 exemption
    • The crushing, grinding or other size reduction of waste bricks, tiles or concrete - paragraph 24 exemption
    • The deposit of borehole or excavated waste - paragraph 35 exemption
    • The deposit of waste arising from dredging inland waters or from clearing plant matter from inland waters - paragraph 25 exemption
    • The discharge of sanitary waste from a passenger train - paragraph 31 exemption
    • The disposal of specified wastes at the place of production in an incinerator - paragraph 29 exemption
    • The heating of metals in a furnace or other combustion chamber for the purpose of removing grease, oil or any other non-metallic contaminant - paragraph 44 exemption
    • The keeping or deposit of spent railway ballast - paragraph 34 exemption
    • The keeping or deposit of waste arising from peatworking - paragraph 33 exemption
    • The laundering or otherwise cleaning of waste textiles with a view to recovery or reuse - paragraph 20 exemption
    • The manufacture of finished goods from waste metal, plastic, glass, ceramics, rubber, textiles, wood, paper or cardboard, and the storage of those wastes - paragraph 15 exemption
    • The manufacture of products from waste, the treatment of waste soil or rock which is to be spread on land under paragraph 9 or 11, and the storage of waste which is to be submitted to the preceding activities - paragraph 14 exemption
    • The reclamation, restoration or improvement of land - paragraph 11 exemption
    • The recovery and storage of waste from a water treatment works or a sewage treatment works - paragraph 46 exemption
    • The recovery of scrap metal or the dismantling of depolluted end-of-life vehicles - paragraph 45 exemption
    • The recovery of silver from waste produced in connection with printing or photographic processing - paragraph 22 exemption
    • The recovery of waste as an integral part of the process that produces it - paragraph 26 exemption
    • The recovery of waste consisting of animal by-products - paragraph 23 exemption
    • The repair, refurbishment, and storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - paragraph 49 exemption
    • The secure storage of waste batteries and accumulators - paragraph 52 exemption
    • The secure storage of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) - paragraph 50 exemption
    • The storage of non-liquid waste including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at any site other than the premises where it is produced - paragraph 40 exemption
    • The storage of sludge - paragraph 10(b) exemption
    • The storage of waste medicines at a pharmacy or storage of waste at the premises of a medical, nursing or veterinary practice - paragraph 39 exemption
    • The storage or deposit of waste samples to be tested or analysed - paragraph 38 exemption
    • The temporary storage of garbage or tank washings from ships at a port - paragraph 36 exemption
    • The temporary storage of waste, including WEEE, pending its collection, at the place where it is produced - paragraph 41 exemption
    • The treatment and storage of waste with a view to recovery or reuse, according to specified conditions - paragraph 12 simple exemption
    • The use and storage of waste glass in a process under an IPC authorisation - paragraph 1 exemption
    • The use and storage of waste glass under a Pollution Prevention Control (PPC) permit - paragraph 2 exemption
    • The use and/or storage of waste for the purpose of construction, maintenance or improvement of relevant work - paragraph 19 exemption
    • The waste management transitional arrangements for the treatment, keeping or disposal at any premises, of scrap metal or waste motor vehicles, which are to be dismantled pending the issue of a licence - paragraph 42 exemption
    • The waste management transitional arrangements to cover (up to 19 December 2004) the treatment, keeping or disposal of waste - paragraph 43 exemption
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