Disposal of Timber Products – 1st September

Posted on September 1, 2023

Important Update on Wood Waste Handling Regulations

The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed the withdrawal of the ‘Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 250’ effective from 1st September 2023. This decision will lead to changes in waste wood handling regulations from the construction and demolition (C&D) industry.

What’s Changing?

‘RPS 250’ currently allows potentially hazardous waste wood items from the C&D industry to be moved and processed as non-hazardous. However, after extensive testing by the Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) to determine hazardous waste content in wood items, the EA has decided to withdraw ‘RPS 250’ starting from 1st September 2023.

This means that certain waste wood categories which would previously be sent to wood recyclers will now be automatically classified as hazardous waste and will need to be disposed of accordingly at a suitably permitted facility.

Post the WRA testing there are ten additional waste wood categories that have been designated as hazardous, accounting for less than 1% of UK total wood waste. Note, the WRA anticipates adding further categories as hazardous items after ongoing testing persists.

Which Wood Items are Hazardous?

The categories that will be classified as hazardous from 1st September 2023 (typically from pre-2007 buildings), unless analysed to prove their non-hazardous nature, are as shown in the graphic below.

These items will not be able to be sent to wood recyclers unless they are sent for a test to demonstrate that they are not hazardous.

Hazardous and potentially hazardous waste wood items from pre-2007 structures or waste classed as Grade D wood waste will need to be segregated and marked as hazardous waste.

If you require more information on the change, and how to manage the impact on your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  You can reach us by phone: 0151 545 0497, or email: [email protected].