The purpose of a U8 exemption is to permit the operator who benefits from the exemption to use waste for a specific purpose without a full environmental permit.
This is valid once registration is complete, assumes that the relevant conditions are complied with and is conditional on the provision that it doesn’t require treatment and helps reduce the use of virgin materials.
The guidance ‘U8: using waste for a specific purpose – GOV.UK’ sets out what you need to know about the U8 exemption, including the types of activities/purposes it covers, conditions of use, and how to register a U8 exemption amongst other information.
The guidance was recently updated on 1 September 2025 to:
- Clarify when a U8 exemption is not needed
- Add charging information and registration rules.
- Provide a clearer table formatting for waste types and descriptions
We urge all operators who benefit from a U8 exemption or may seek to register a U8 exemption in the future to review the updated guidance.
We set out below more information about some of the recent updates referred to above, save for the updated table, which can be viewed in the updated guidance.
When you do not need a U8 exemption
You do not need a U8 if you’re using virgin wood offcuts, sawdust, or shavings that:
- Are for specific use as animal bedding or a surface for training horses
- Are a by-product that has come directly from the sawmill or other producer
Registration rules
You cannot:
- Register more than one U8 at the same site
- Register a U8 if it’s already been registered at the site by another business
- Renew your registration more than one month before the 3-year registration period ends
- Increase the storage limit by registering a separate storage exemption
- Store or treat waste that’s not included in the exemption
Waste exemption charges
For more information on the charges, including what the charges are, you can read the Government guidance on waste exemption charges.
U8 exemption has a band 2 compliance charge.
There’s a registration charge to register one or more exemptions at a time.
If you need any help or support to manage your U8 exemptions, our team is here.
Our specialist team can support you with compliance awareness so that you do not get caught out. Contact James Edes today for help.