D1 waste exemption: depositing waste from dredging inland waters

Dredging spoil means waste you produce from dredging inland waters. It includes plant matter. 

Your waste must fit within the waste code and description.

Types and amounts of waste you can deposit

Waste code	Type of waste
17 05 06	Dredging spoil (except spoil in waste code 17 05 05)

You can deposit, screen and de-water up to 50 cubic metres of dredging spoil on each metre length of land during any 12-month period. 

This also applies to dredging spoil you put in a container or lagoon.

Conditions 

You must: 

• follow the waste classification technical guidance to assess your dredging spoil to make sure it is not hazardous 
• remove large items, litter and fly-tipped waste – you must send these items to an exempt or permitted waste facility 
• allow excess water to drain away 

You must deposit the dredging spoil at the closest possible point to the location of the dredging.  

This would be either on the water’s edge or the closest point where you can deposit the spoil in one mechanical operation.

The ‘closest possible point’ allows for things that might prevent you from depositing the spoil closer to the dredging point, for example: 

• buildings 
• highways 
• woodland 
• land ownership

After you’ve deposited, screened and dewatered the dredging spoil, you can spread it on the adjoining land immediately next to the inland water.

If you want to transport the dredging spoil to spread or use elsewhere, you’ll need separate exemptions or permits.

You cannot:  

• deposit dredging spoil on the bank of an unconnected inland water, or deposit dredging spoil from any other waters 
• deposit dredging spoil that contains hazardous waste 
• treat dredging spoil, other than by screening and removing large items, litter and fly-tipped waste, or removing water 
• deposit litter and fly-tipped waste 

Using containers or lagoons 

If you put dredging spoil in a container or lagoon under a D1 waste exemption, you must remove any containment structures when the dredging spoil has dried out, or before you spread it on adjoining land. 

If you form a containment bund from the dredging spoils, or soil from the adjoining land, you can level these out and spread them at the site. 

If you form the containment from other material, for example straw bales, geotextile or timber, you must remove these off-site to an exempt or permitted waste facility. You may reuse these materials where they remain fit for purpose.

Check if you need other permits 

There are different permit options for depositing waste dredged from inland waterways onto land. 

You must comply with other rules that apply to your D1 activity. For example, you might need planning permission, or a flood risk activity permit. 

Contact your lead local flood authority if you are raising levels or building on a floodplain or near a watercourse. 

You need an environmental permit or a different exemption if you want to manage:  

• waste that is not listed in this exemption  
• more waste than is allowed for the activity

Activity along rivers and canals 

A river or canal is a ‘linear network’ for the purpose of this exemption. You must comply with the same rules and conditions that apply to single site locations.

When you register a D1 waste exemption for activity along a river or canal, you must fill in this registration form and submit it with a copy of a map or with the following details in the spreadsheet: 

• the nearest town or district, and county 
• name of watercourse 
• grid references showing the start and end points of the stretch it is referring to

Registering a D1 waste exemption 

You must register your exemption with the Environment Agency. You can register through the waste exemption service.  

Linear networks and multiple site registrations  

You’ll need to complete this registration form instead of using the online service.

Registration rules  

You cannot:  

• have more than one D1 at a site at the same time  
• register a D1 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 waste that’s not included in the exemption

Related exemptions

• U1: Using waste in construction allows you to use dredging spoil in construction
• U13: Spreading plant matter where it as grown, to benefit soil allows you to spread plant matter that’s cut along the banks of inland water

You can spread dredging spoil from creating or maintaining habitats, ditches or ponds within parks, gardens, fields and forests under:

• U10: Spreading waste to benefit agricultural land
• U11: Spreading waste on non-agricultural land

Contact the Environment Agency