The Environment Agency updated this guidance on 9 October 2026. What changed, in its own words:

The guidance as it stands now

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to comply with an environmental permit for a waste operation or relevant waste exemption when you treat, store or spread sewage sludge and septic tank sludge to land.

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.

The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.