How do you apply for an environmental permit?

Environmental permitting applies to England and Wales only.

If you operate your business in Northern Ireland or Scotland, see our guidance on pollution prevention and control and waste management licensing.

Pollution prevention and control permits
Waste management licensing

Who can apply for a permit?

You can only apply for an environmental permit if you control the operation of a regulated facility. For further information on regulated facilities, see our guidance on who needs an environmental permit.

Do you need an environmental permit?

You must not start operations before your environmental permit has been issued.

Who do you apply to?

You must apply to your regulator for an environmental permit.

* If your waste operation or waste mobile plant is carried out as part of your Part A(2) or B installation or mobile plant, your local council is your regulator.

Where can you find application forms?

If your facility is regulated by the Environment Agency, you can download application forms from the Environment Agency’s website.

Environment Agency: Application forms

If your facility is regulated by your local council, you can get application forms and guidance from your local council.

Contact your local council

How much does it cost to apply for a permit

If you apply to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit, the amount it will charge you depends on how risky your activity is:

• Tier 1 low risk facilities: there are currently no charges.
• Tier 2 medium risk facilities: charges are fixed - for example, in 2009/10 it costs £2,545 to apply for a standard rules composting facility.
• Tier 3 high risk facilities: charges are based on the operational risk appraisal (OPRA).

Environment Agency: Environmental permitting (EP) charges
Environment Agency: Operational risk appraisal (OPRA)

If you apply to your local authority for an environmental permit, it will charge you in 2009/10:

• £3,181 for each part A(2) activity you apply for
• £1,561 for each part B activity you apply for, unless your activity is a reduced fee activity, such as dry cleaning, where the application fee will be between £146 and £342.

Defra: Local authority fees and charges

What you must include in your permit application

If you apply for a new environmental permit, you must complete sections A, B and F of the application.

When you apply for an environmental permit, you must include:

• the type of application, eg is it for a new permit or a change to an existing permit
• the case reference number if you have already had discussions with your regulator
• your name and address, eg are you applying as an individual or a company
• who can be contacted about your application
• your site’s name and address
• a map or plan showing your site’s boundaries highlighted in green (except for mobile plant)
• your ability to be an operator, eg your technical skills and details of any relevant convictions
• the activities that your regulated facility will carry out.

The Environment Agency has produced guidance on how to complete your application. It also has a checklist on how to get your application right the first time.

Environment Agency: Application forms and guidance
Environment Agency: How to get your application right first time - hints and tips (Adobe PDF - 52KB)

Demonstrating that you are competent

If you carry out specified waste management activities, such as operating a waste treatment facility, waste transfer facility or scrap metal site, you must be able to show continuing technical competence through an ’approved scheme‘.

Approved schemes replaced the old Environment Agency assessments and the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC) in England and Wales.

There is currently only one approved scheme. This scheme was developed jointly by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and WAMITAB.

CIWM: Joint CIWM/WAMITAB scheme

How long will it take to get a permit?

Your regulator must decide whether it will issue you with a permit within:

• 3 months if you apply for a standard permit or mobile plant permit
• 4 months if you apply for a bespoke permit
• a longer period if you agree this with your regulator.
  

In this guideline:

What is an environmental permit?
Do you need an environmental permit?
Do you need to register an exemption from environmental permitting?
How do you apply for an environmental permit?
What you must do if you hold an environmental permit
How do you change, transfer or cancel your environmental permit?
Environmental permitting further information
Environmental permitting legislation