S2: storing waste at a secure site
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

S2 waste exemption allows you to store specific waste at a secure intermediate site, separate to where the waste was produced, before transportation to another site for recovery.

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:
- storing construction and demolition waste that can be reused without treatment, at an intermediate site before it is moved to another place to be reused
- storing olive pulp and marble chips at a port before it is moved to another place to be recovered
Types of activity you cannot carry out

You cannot:
- treat waste under this exemption - see the section ‘related exemptions’
- store waste destined to be disposed of - see the section ‘related permits’
- store mixed waste
- mix hazardous with non-hazardous waste.
- register this exemption to increase the storage capacity at the place where another treatment exemption such as T1 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemptions-treating-waste), T4 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t4-preparatory-treatments-baling-sorting-shredding-etc), T11 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t11-repairing-or-refurbishing-waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee) or a U activity (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/waste-exemptions-using-waste) is carried out
Types of waste you can store

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

(*) An asterisk at the end of a code means the waste is hazardous.

Conditions

The conditions are:
- each type of waste must be stored separately
- the storage must take place at a secure place
- the storage of the waste is pending its recovery elsewhere
- each waste shall not be stored for longer than the specified time period
The additional specific conditions apply to some specified types of waste.

Aqueous paint related waste only
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Batteries:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the storage place has sealed drainage
CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Edible oil and fat only:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Electric arc furnace dust only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
- the waste must arrive at the storage place in bags and must be stored there in bags or in drums
Farm plastics (non-packaging):
- the waste is stored indoors
Glass:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
Mammalian protein only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Mammalian tallow only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Mattresses only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Olive pulp and pellet:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Paints (excluding specialist and industrial paints, wood preservatives, aerosol and spray paints, inks, adhesives and resins) pending reuse as paints:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Paper and cardboard (excluding food and drink cartons):
- the waste is stored in a baled form, in a container or indoors
- within the quantity limit specified and despite this additional specific condition, up to 1,000 tonnes may be stored outdoors as long as it is stored in an enclosure designed and maintained to prevent litter escaping
Photographic films and papers:
- the waste is stored in a baled form, in a container or indoors
Poultry litter ash only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Printer cartridges only:
- the waste is stored indoors
Scrap metal:
- the storage place has sealed drainage
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
Solder metal, skimmings, ashes and residues:
- the waste is stored in bags or in drums
Solvents and solvent mixtures:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Synthetic gypsum and pulverized fuel ash only:
- the waste is stored indoors
- the waste is stored at a dock before being exported or after being imported
- the waste must arrive at the storage place in bags and must be stored there in bags or in drums
Tyres, tyre chip and crumb:
- the total quantity of waste stored together does not exceed 10 tonnes; this is to reduce the risk of fire spreading
Waste cleaning solution containing 2% sodium metasilicate and 1% to 2% waste oil only:
- the waste is stored in a container
- the waste is stored with secondary containment
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE):
- you must comply with the requirements in paragraph 1 of Annex VIII of the WEEE Directive (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02012L0019-20180704#tocId64)
- the WEEE is stored on an impermeable surface
- where you are storing WEEE containing hazardous materials or fluids, or storing whole appliances or parts that are to be reused, the WEEE is stored with weatherproof covering
What else you need to know

Hazardous waste is subject to the Hazardous Waste Regulations (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste).

Related exemptions

T1: Cleaning, washing, spraying or coating relevant waste (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemptions-treating-waste)

T2: Recovering textiles (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t2-recovering-textiles)

T4: Preparatory treatments, such as baling, sorting, shredding (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t4-preparatory-treatments-baling-sorting-shredding-etc)

S1: Storing waste in secure containers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemptions-storing-waste)

Related permits

You will need an environmental permit if you want to store:
- waste at an intermediate site for treatment or use not covered in related exemptions or under a permit for recovery
- mixed waste at an intermediate site for treatment
- waste prior to disposal
Find out more about environmental permits for waste (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-environmental-permits).

Register a S2 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.