Guidance on storing treated sewage sludge

You usually need an environmental permit or exemption to store treated sludge. Normally, if you supply dewatered treated sludge to farmers to beneficially spread on agricultural land, they would store it using a S3 waste exemption.

If sewerage companies follow the conditions in this COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) they can store dewatered treated sludge not at the place it will be used, without an environmental permit.

This COVID-19 RPS only applies to treated sludge as described in the Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations. It does not apply to septic tank sludge (which can go to a sewage works) and waste containing sewage sludge (which is covered by the Environmental Permitting Regulations).

You must get written agreement from your Environment Agency water company account manager before you use this COVID-19 RPS.