Anaerobic digestate: resource framework
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-20)

How to meet 'end of waste' status for digestate produced from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste.

1. The purpose of the resource framework

This resource framework relates to digestate produced from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste (biowaste).

This resource framework is to help you understand when digestate products are no longer considered waste. Meaning they meet the ‘end of waste’ test (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-material-is-waste). This is so you can:
- understand when you no longer need to follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste) for digestate products
- be confident that the quality of digestate produced meets an approved standard
- be confident that the quality of digestate produced is suitable for use in appropriate markets
- protect human health and prevent pollution of the environment, including soil
2. Waste you can use

To follow this resource framework, you must only use source-segregated biodegradable materials as defined in the British Standard Institution’s Publicly Available Specification 110 (2014) (BSI PAS 110) (#BSI-PAS-110).

And the materials you use must be compliant with the waste codes, descriptions and restrictions in the following tables.

‘Use’ means feeding a material into the biological treatment phases of the process.

2.1 Wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, food preparation and processing

2.2. Wastes from the preparation and processing of meat, fish and other foods of animal origin

2.3. Wastes from fruit, vegetables, cereals, edible oils, cocoa, coffee, tea and tobacco preparation and processing, conserve production, yeast and yeast extract production, molasses preparation and fermentation

2.4. Wastes from sugar processing

2.5. Wastes from the dairy products industry

2.6. Wastes from the baking and confectionary industry

2.7. Wastes from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except coffee, tea and cocoa)

2.8. Wastes from pulp, paper, and cardboard production and processing

2.9. Wastes from the textile industry

2.10. Waste from organic chemical processes

Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use of basic organic chemicals.

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

2.11. Waste packaging; absorbents, filter materials wiping cloths and protective clothing

2.12. Wastes not otherwise specified in the list

2.13. Wastes from physico-chemical treatment of wastes

2.14. Wastes from aerobic treatment of solid wastes

2.15. Wastes from anaerobic treatment of solid wastes

2.16. Wastes from waste water treatment plants not otherwise specified

2.17. Wastes from the mechanical treatment of waste not otherwise specified

2.18. Municipal waste (household waste and similar commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including separately collected fractions

2.19. Garden and park wastes (including cemetery waste)

2.20. Other municipal wastes

Note 1

You can only use industrially compostable packaging and non-packaging items that are independently certified as compliant with at least one of the following:
- EN 13432
- EN 14995
- ASTM D6400
You can only use home compostable packaging and non-packaging items that are independently certified as compliant with at least one of the following:
- EN 17427
- AS 5810-2010
- NF T51-800
- TÜV Austria’s certification requirements for home compostable packaging under their ‘OK compost HOME scheme’
3. When the final product is not considered waste

3.1. Digestate products will have met the end of waste test (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-material-is-waste), and so not be considered waste anymore, if you can show all of the following:
- they have been produced using only the source-segregated biodegradable waste materials approved in section 2 of this resource framework
- you have stored and processed the waste correctly, in line with section 3.2 of this resource framework
- they need no further treatment other than the methods described in BSI PAS 110 before their intended use
- they meet any extra specification requested by and agreed with your customer
- there is certainty of use for the material
If so, you will no longer have to follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste) when you either:
- dispatch the products to the customer from your production site
- store the products at your production site or storage locations under your control
You must not store any portion of your product for more than 10 months. And you must have at least one of the following:
- contracts of supply or sales orders (or both) that cover the quantity of the same product in storage at any time
- sales history for the most recent 12 months that shows at least as much of the same product type was supplied for use
3.2. You must process the waste in line with the specification defined in BSI PAS 110.

3.3. The maximum allowed concentration of plastic in the digestate and other products derived from it is 8% of the ‘total physical contaminants (excluding stones)’ limits in Table 1 of BSI PAS 110.

3.4. Certified digestates that are in storage with little chance of use are considered waste. This means you must follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste).

4. Providing evidence that quality digestate has been produced

4.1. Get certification from an approved third-party certification body

4.1.1. You must show you comply with the requirements of this resource framework, including all the conditions of BSI PAS 110. You must prove this to a certification body that is:
- appointed by the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme
- operating in line with scheme rules agreed with the Environment Agency
- accredited, or can demonstrate working towards accreditation to ISO 17065:2012 (or its latest equivalent) by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), maintained annually
4.1.2. As part of the certification process, you must:
- make and keep records for a minimum of 4 years – following the guidance in sections 4.2 and 4.3 of this resource framework
- make these records available to the certification body for certification purposes
4.1.3. The Environment Agency will agree scheme rules if:
- the method of certification shows that you have met the requirements of the resource framework and BSI PAS 110
- your compliance with the resource framework and BSI PAS 100 are certified annually by an independent certification body that is accredited in line with point 4.1.1
- the accredited certification body is accredited to certify digestate
- certification verifies source documentation, evidence of site management procedures (including compliance with the quality management system) and laboratory test results
- the certification body or its authorised contractor carries out at least one site inspection a year to check and confirm on-site documentation
- an impartial committee oversees the certification process
4.2. Record your incoming waste

4.2.1. Your records need to include:
- the waste code and waste description, in compliance with your environmental permit or exemption
- its volume or weight
- the source of the waste
- the date of delivery
- the name and address of supplier
- the name and address of carrier
- your method for confirming the waste is acceptable input material – and, if it’s not acceptable (including only in part), your rejection reasons and what you did with the rejected waste
4.3. Record your outgoing product

4.3.1. This includes producing and keeping copies of customer supply documentation. This must contain a declaration that the final product meets:
- BSI PAS 110
- the requirements of this resource framework
- any additional customer specifications (as agreed between the supplier and the customer)
4.3.2. You must make all records available for inspection by the regulator, if requested.

5. Compliance with legislation outside of waste regulation

5.1. This resource framework does not change your requirement to comply with other relevant legislation, including the legislation referred to in the following guidance:
- Animal By-Products Regulations (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-the-animal-by-product-industry)
- Farming Rules for Water (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-the-farming-rules-for-water/applying-the-farming-rules-for-water)
- Codes of Good Agricultural Practices (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-our-water-soil-and-air)
5.2. Failing to do this, or to comply with waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste) when you cannot show compliance with this resource framework, may be an offence.

5.3. Spreading to land: compliance with nutrient management plans

5.3.1. When you are supplying to agriculture, your digestate supply documentation must tell the customers of the product that:
- they must have a nutrient management plan (NMP) before use
- they must apply digestate in line with the NMP, along with any other organic manures and manufactured fertilisers, at rates that do not exceed soil and crop need
- they are responsible for following their NMP – if they do not do this, the Environment Agency may take enforcement action
- where there is no soil and crop need for digestate, it is considered waste and they must follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste)
5.3.2. If you do not do this, the Environment Agency may take action in line with its enforcement and sanctions policy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-enforcement-and-sanctions-policy).

6. Compliant products: loss of non-waste status

6.1. Digestate that’s compliant with this resource framework will become waste again (meaning you must follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste)) if, at any stage:
- you discard it
- you plan to discard it
- it is required to be discarded
- it is applied in excess of soil and crop requirements
- it is stored indefinitely with little prospect of being used
6.2. This applies to anyone holding stores of digestate, not just producers.

7. Mixing compliant products with waste and non-waste

7.1. If you mix digestate that is compliant with this resource framework with other waste material, the whole mixed volume becomes waste and you must follow waste management controls (https://www.gov.uk/dispose-business-commercial-waste).

7.2. If you mix digestate that is compliant with this resource framework with other non-waste material, the whole mixed volume is not waste. Doing this is not considered further treatment. For example, blending compost which has met the compost resource framework with digestate that has met this resource framework is not a waste activity, as neither material is waste. But you must keep to the requirements of section 6.

8. Standards and specifications which apply to this resource framework

8.1. BSI PAS 110

The only standard which applies to this resource framework is BSI PAS 110. You can download free copies of BSI PAS 110 from:
- WRAP (https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/guide/bsi-pas-110-producing-quality-anaerobic-digestate)
- Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (https://www.biofertiliser.org.uk/documents/pas110)
8.2. Responsible sourcing scheme

8.2.1. If you supply digestate as a growing medium ingredient to the horticulture sector, you must only supply it to an accredited member of the responsible sourcing scheme (https://www.responsiblesourcing.org.uk/).

8.2.2. You must agree the digestate quality specification in writing with each member of the responsible sourcing scheme you supply. The quality specification must include (but is not limited to) physical contaminants and stability or maturity limits.

9. Updates to this resource framework

The Environment Agency will review this resource framework in summer 2026, with support from industry. The Environment Agency may update or withdraw this resource framework before this date because of:
- pollution incidents
- the resource framework being used incorrectly
- developments in scientific understanding
- a change in the market
- a change in legislation or case law
- a change to the agreed industry standard or input materials
You can subscribe to email updates about this resource framework. These will tell you if it has changed and when it has been withdrawn. Use the ‘Get emails about this page’ link on this page.

10. If you have questions about this resource framework

General enquiries

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