D1: depositing waste from dredging inland waters
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-28)

Where to deposit non-hazardous dredging spoil, how to treat it, and the quantities allowed under a D1 waste exemption.

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 2. Read waste exemptions charges (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-how-to-choose-register-and-pay/waste-exemption-charges) to find out what the charges and charging bands are.

Dredging spoil means waste you produce from dredging inland waters. It includes plant matter.

Your waste must fit within the waste code and description.

Types and amounts of waste you can deposit

You can deposit, screen and de-water up to 50 cubic metres of dredging spoil on each metre length of land during any 12-month period.

This also applies to dredging spoil you put in a container or lagoon.

Conditions

You must:
- follow the waste classification technical guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-classification-technical-guidance) to assess your dredging spoil to make sure it is not hazardous
- remove large items, litter and fly-tipped waste – you must send these items to an exempt or permitted waste facility
- allow excess water to drain away
You must deposit the dredging spoil at the closest possible point to the location of the dredging.

This would be either on the water’s edge or the closest point where you can deposit the spoil in one mechanical operation.

The ‘closest possible point’ allows for things that might prevent you from depositing the spoil closer to the dredging point, for example:
- buildings
- highways
- woodland
- land ownership
After you’ve deposited, screened and dewatered the dredging spoil, you can spread it on the adjoining land immediately next to the inland water.

If you want to transport the dredging spoil to spread or use elsewhere, you’ll need separate exemptions or permits.

You cannot:
- deposit dredging spoil on the bank of an unconnected inland water, or deposit dredging spoil from any other waters
- deposit dredging spoil that contains hazardous waste (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste)
- treat dredging spoil, other than by screening and removing large items, litter and fly-tipped waste, or removing water
- deposit litter and fly-tipped waste
Using containers or lagoons

If you put dredging spoil in a container or lagoon under a D1 waste exemption, you must remove any containment structures when the dredging spoil has dried out, or before you spread it on adjoining land.

If you form a containment bund from the dredging spoils, or soil from the adjoining land, you can level these out and spread them at the site.

If you form the containment from other material, for example straw bales, geotextile or timber, you must remove these off-site to an exempt or permitted waste facility. You may reuse these materials where they remain fit for purpose.

Check if you need other permits

There are different permit options for depositing waste dredged from inland waterways onto land (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/depositing-dredged-waste-on-land).

You must comply with other rules that apply to your D1 activity. For example, you might need planning permission (https://www.gov.uk/planning-permission-england-wales), or a flood risk activity permit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-activities-environmental-permits).

Contact your lead local flood authority (https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/severe-weather/flooding/local-flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk-roles-and) if you are raising levels or building on a floodplain or near a watercourse.

You need an environmental permit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-environmental-permit) or a different exemption if you want to manage:
- waste that is not listed in this exemption
- more waste than is allowed for the activity
Register a D1 waste exemption

You must register with the Environment Agency.

You can register and pay through the waste exemption service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-waste-exemptions) unless it’s a linear network or multiple site registration.

Registering a linear network

Linear networks are long stretches that do not have a defined address or gridpoint. They may run for several miles and have more than one site postcode. They include rivers and canals. You must comply with the same rules and conditions that apply to single site locations.

To register a D1 for activity along a linear network like a river or canal, fill in the registration form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-bulk-registration-form).

Register in the name of the business, at the registered office or main place of business.

You’ll need to provide one of the following:
- grid references for the start point A and end point B of your area of waste activity
- a map showing all your areas of activity with descriptions of the locations
Email your form, and map if necessary, to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Read the updated guidance on linear network registration (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-how-to-choose-register-and-pay/registration-rules-and-guidance#linear-network).

Multiple site registrations

You’ll need to fill in this registration form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-bulk-registration-form) instead of using the online service.

Charities register by phone

Charities do not have to pay for waste exemptions. If you’re a charity, call the Environment Agency to register free of charge.

To qualify as a charity, your organisation’s aims and purposes must be exclusively charitable. Your organisation must operate for the public benefit.

Read the Charity Commission’s list and descriptions of charitable purposes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charitable-purposes/charitable-purposes) to find out if your organisation falls within one of the 13 types of charitable activity.

Registration rules

You cannot:
- have more than one D1 at a site at the same time
- register a D1 if it’s already been registered at the site by another business
- renew your registration more than one month before the 3-year registration period ends
- increase the storage limit by registering a separate storage exemption
- store waste that’s not included in the exemption
Charges for registering a D1 exemption

Read waste exemption charges (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-how-to-choose-register-and-pay/waste-exemption-charges) to find out what the charges and charging bands are.

D1 exemption has a band 2 compliance charge.

There’s a registration charge to register one or more exemptions at a time.

You may get a discount on the compliance charge if you register several exemptions at the same time.

Capped charge for farmers

Farmers pay a capped compliance charge for any number of farming exemptions. D1 is included in the list of farming exemptions.

Read waste exemptions guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-exemptions-how-to-choose-register-and-pay) in full.

Related exemptions
- U1: Using waste in construction (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemptions-using-waste) allows you to use dredging spoil in construction
- U13: Spreading plant matter where it as grown, to benefit soil (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u13-spreading-plant-matter-to-provide-benefits) allows you to spread plant matter that’s cut along the banks of inland water
You can spread dredging spoil from creating or maintaining habitats, ditches or ponds within parks, gardens, fields and forests under:
- U10: Spreading waste to benefit agricultural land (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u10-spreading-waste-to-benefit-agricultural-land)
- U11: Spreading waste on non-agricultural land (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u11-spreading-waste-to-benefit-non-agricultural-land)
Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre PO Box 544RotherhamS60 1BY

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) xx-xxxx-xxxx

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.