U11: spreading waste on non-agricultural land
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

U11 exemption allows you to spread waste on non-agricultural land to replace manufactured fertilisers or virgin materials (such as lime) to improve or maintain soil.

There’s a charge for most waste exemptions

This exemption is in band 2. 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 could include:
- spreading compost produced under T23: aerobic composting and associated prior treatment (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t23-aerobic-composting-and-associated-prior-treatment) to condition the soil in a communal garden
- spreading small amounts of ash produced by wood chip boilers under U4: burning waste as a fuel in a small appliance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u4-burning-of-waste-as-a-fuel-in-a-small-appliance)
Types of activity you cannot carry out

You cannot spread waste:
- to benefit agricultural land under this exemption - see U10 in related exemptions (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u10-spreading-waste-to-benefit-agricultural-land).
- not listed in the table below
- on land unless it provides a benefit
Types and quantities of waste you can use

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

Key to conditions

Other important conditions

Waste must be spread to benefit the land.

You should not use any more waste than you need to or this will be considered as waste disposal and will not be exempt.

Waste must be stored in a secure location before it is used.

You must not spread waste if the land is:
- waterlogged, frozen or covered with snow
- has been frozen for 12 hours or more in the 24 hours before you want to start spreading
Biobed or biofilter material must be stored for 12 months before it is spread. Other types of waste must be stored for less than 12 months before they are spread.

Dredging spoil from maintaining ditches can only be spread next to the ditch from which it is dredged.

Keeping records

You must keep records of the amount, nature and origin of all waste spread on your land for 2 years. You must make these records available to the Environment Agency if they ask to see them. If you are already required to keep records under the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 or the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2015 (the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Rules), you do not need to keep other records.

U11 related exemptions

U10: spreading of waste on agricultural land to confer benefit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-u10-spreading-waste-to-benefit-agricultural-land)

T23 : aerobic composting and associated prior treatment (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t23-aerobic-composting-and-associated-prior-treatment)

T24: anaerobic digestion at premises used for agriculture and burning resulting biogas (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t24-anaerobic-digestion-at-premises-used-for-agriculture-and-burning-resulting-biogas)

T25: anaerobic digestion at premises not used for agriculture and burning resulting biogas (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t25-anaerobic-digestion-at-premises-not-used-for-agriculture-and-burning-resulting-biogas)

T26: treating kitchen waste in a wormery (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-exemption-t26-treatment-of-kitchen-waste-in-a-wormery)

Register a U11 exemption

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

U11 related permits

If you want to spread a wider range of waste or spread more waste than this exemption allows, you will need to apply for an environmental permit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/waste-environmental-permits).