T4: storing and preparing for further treatment
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

T4 exemption allows you to treat waste to reduce its volume for transport to another site for reuse, recycling or to make handling easier.

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 1. 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.

Types of activity you can carry out

These include:
- baling loose paper and cardboard before transporting it to another site for recycling
- baling and shredding aluminium cans
- sorting different types of plastic bottles
Types of activity you cannot carry out

You cannot:
- use heat to densify the waste
- combine the storage limits of this exemption and S2 - storing waste in a secure place (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-s2-storing-waste-in-a-secure-place) to increase the overall storage capacity (this exemption has storage limits for each type of waste so you don’t have to register 2 separate exemptions)
- mix types of waste for treatment or storage
- treat hazardous waste
- bale waste before it is sent to landfill or incineration
Types of waste you can treat

The waste codes are those listed in the List of Wastes (LoW) Regulations. Make sure your waste fits within the relevant waste code and description.

Amount of waste you can treat and store

Where the treatment involves pulverising waste you can treat up to five tonnes in any 7-day period and the pulverising must take place indoors.

You can store waste for up to 12 months.

Cans and foils

You can:
- treat up to 100 tonnes outside in any 7-day period
- treat up to 500 tonnes indoors in any 7-day period
- store up to 500 tonnes at any one time
Food and drink cartons and plastics

You can:
- treat up to 100 tonnes outside in any 7-day period
- treat up to 3,000 tonnes indoors in any 7-day period
- store up to 500 tonnes at any one time
Glass

You can:
- treat up to 5,000 tonnes in any 7-day period
- store up to 5,000 tonnes at any one time
Textiles

You can:
- treat up to 1,000 tonnes outside in any 7-day period
- treat up to 3,000 tonnes indoors in any 7-day period
- store up to 1,000 tonnes at any one time
Paper and cardboard

You can:
- treat up to 500 tonnes outside in any 7-day period
- treat up to 3,000 tonnes indoors in any 7-day period
- store up to 15,000 tonnes at any one time (up to 1,000 tonnes outside in an enclosure designed and maintained to prevent litter escaping)
The waste can only be stored:
- in a baled form
- in a container or indoors
Key conditions

Different types of waste have to arrive separately and be kept apart throughout the treatment.

The waste must be stored and treated in a secure place.

You do not need to register this exemption if you only want to bale waste at the place where it is produced. This is accepted as ancillary treatment before the collection of waste.

Related exemptions

If you only want to store these types of waste but not treat them, you could register:

S2 – storing waste in a secure place (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-s2-storing-waste-in-a-secure-place)

There is another exemption which allows small-scale sorting of mixed recyclable wastes. You could consider:

T10 – sorting mixed wastes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t10-sorting-mixed-waste)

Register a T4 exemption

You need to register this exemption (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-waste-exemptions) with the Environment Agency if you meet the requirements.

Related permits

If you want to treat more than the amount of waste allowed under this exemption, you must apply for an environmental permit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-environmental-permits).

Definitions

Hazardous waste – see how to classify different types of waste (https://www.gov.uk/how-to-classify-different-types-of-waste).

Place of production – the place where waste was originally produced.

Secure – a container, lagoon or other place is secure if:
- all reasonable precautions are taken to make sure the waste cannot escape
- members of the public cannot gain access to the waste