If You Run A Tree Business - This Affects You

[acer]

I always burn my stuff theres no harm in doing it, better than dumping it anywhere in the countryside! I only do small jobs so its not massive amounts to get rid of, but fires are my main way of dealling with waste.

[Quickthorn]

I've also found various ofices inconsistent in their knowledge. I will only deal now with head office in Sheffield.

On site chipping does not need a 21 exemption, its processing it at your yard that requires the exemption.

 

 

On the phone to sheffield now, they've told me they I do need a para 21 exemption for chipping and leaving on site (as mulch etc). Perhaps it depends on what you do with it after it's chipped. Also, I need to register exemption for every site. Not a problem now, but if their proposals for change go ahead (see my previous posts), each exemption will cost £50 for 3 years. £50 per site I work on = not good.

[Andy Collins]

On the phone to sheffield now, they've told me they I do need a para 21 exemption for chipping and leaving on site (as mulch etc). Perhaps it depends on what you do with it after it's chipped. Also, I need to register exemption for every site. Not a problem now, but if their proposals for change go ahead (see my previous posts), each exemption will cost £50 for 3 years. £50 per site I work on = not good.

 

So if you do say 3 separate jobs per day, chipping on site to leave as mulch, thats 3 separate exemptions per day?

[Log-ologist]

!

 

The point I think you miss ,Ed, is that once they have you on there database whats next??

 

 

they ( environment agency) didn't have 2 people I know on the database , they just followed the smoke signals.

[tilly]

Had a long Chat with the Environment agency today. In fact, I'm doing quite a bit with them at the moment, and one of the things that came out was

a. waste carriers licence

b. Registration for exemption

 

Firstly, under new rules, ALL of us need waste carriers licences. No excuses, no loopholes, you HAVE to have it. No good saying its a product blah blah.etc.

 

secondly, if you take tree waste back to your yard, you need a paragraph 21 exemption certificate for processing controlled waste - details below.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/1745440/1745496/1906135/1985714/1985724/1986619/?version=1〈=_e

 

As I'm given to understand, none of this is optional - by law you need it.

The first is £148, the exemption is free.

 

Be interested to know if you know anything about this.

 

edit -

yes I know its more nanny state bollocks, so no posts whinging about it. but can anyone put forward any case law or similar that disproves what they're saying?

 

if it goes on your truck you need one takes about 3 weeks to get one with all the paperwork

[Treegeek]

several have been arrested for the killing of a pensioner in Landford near Salisbury, just went in his house robbed and beat the old guy , he died.

one lived a few miles away from me.

 

Landford is just up the road from me we are pleaged by the scrap collecting "tree topping" scum (rest deleted due to being just a bit close to the bone fo my liking)

[Quickthorn]

So if you do say 3 separate jobs per day, chipping on site to leave as mulch, thats 3 separate exemptions per day?

 

That's what they seem to be saying. If you take it away, I'd imagine you'd exempt your yard; if not, you need an exemption for every site.

 

At the moment, it's as easy as a phone call. What I'm more concerned about is the proposed changes in exemptions, due to come in next year. I'm surprised that nobody on here has commented.

 

As I understand it...

 

In future, they propose that you will need to pay a fee for every exemption site you register for a 3 year period. The proposal is £50. You will be able to register more than one exemption for the one fee, but if they extend current exemption arrangements, it will be for the site on which you're treating, using storing and/or disposing of waste. If you work on lots of sites and chip or burn the waste there, that's a registration for each site.

 

If you bring stuff back to your yard (even if you chip it at a customer's place), one registration might cover you, and the exemptions you'd need would be for chipping, storage or any other use or disposal. The relevant storage one might be of concern, as you are limited to 100 tons of wood, and it can only stay there for 12 months or less. I would have thought that might concern anyone running a firewood business who converts arb waste to seasoned firewood in any quantity.

 

If you fall outside of the conditions of an exemption - eg you store more at your yard and/or for longer than above- you would have to apply for an environmental permit. I don't know the full details of this, but it involves an extensive environmental risk assessment, proof of technical competence to run the site, and a fee of at least £several hundred. They won't even look at an application that doesn't come with full proof you have planning permission to operate where you are.

 

They're consulting, until 23rd October, so there's still time to have a say. link

[Mesterh]

All this stuff about exemptions is bafling me:confused1:

 

I have about 4 different places i take chip to so I would need an exemption for each one!

 

Then every time I chip on site I need one for that! Brilliant, leaving chip on site ids the best thing you can do for the environment, no transport running costs, no extra fuel being wasted,no possible land fill and we then have to do more paper work (worse for the environment again) and then pay a fee ridiculus.

 

I would like to see how the lads on the railways,power lines and motorways would be dealing with that! Do you get an exemption for the entire M6

[skyhuck]

I wonder if I should apply for an exception for all the trees on my land? as now its Autumn they are all about to start dropping "waste":scared1:

 

All this it total bs!!!

[Quickthorn]

All this stuff about exemptions is bafling me:confused1:

 

I have about 4 different places i take chip to so I would need an exemption for each one!

 

Then every time I chip on site I need one for that!

 

It's for every site you chip on, rather than where you take it. That's only what they've told me. It's a bit of a lucky dip as to what you get told when you get advice on this from the EA.

Like I said before, they're still consulting on changes to it all. At the end of the consultation paper, they say that they're keen on hearing from "microbusinesses", so now's the chance to find out what they're planning and have your say.