Waste Wood Regulation Change

Reading time: 3 minutes

What is RPS 250?

RPS 250 was introduced in July 2021 and took effect from 1st August. 

The purpose of RPS 250 was to ensure that businesses producing potentially hazardous waste wood from C&D activities were stored and disposed of correctly, so as not to cause harm to human health or the environment. 

As this regulatory position statement was time limited, it was the intention of the Environment Agency to withdraw it in 2023. RPS 250 will be withdrawn from 1st September 2023. 

What’s changing? And what are the new regulations for waste wood?

Some waste wood that was previously classified as ‘green’ will now be classified as ‘amber’. The Waste Shipment Regulation has divided waste into two categories:

• Green waste - non-hazardous waste

• Amber waste - hazardous waste or waste with a mix of both hazardous and non-hazardous parts

Basically, looking at the C&D of any building that was built before 2007 and the wood waste produced from any such activity, as listed below, will now be classified as potentially hazardous:

• Barge boards

• External fascia

• Soffit boards

• External joinery

• External doors

• Roof timber

• Tiling cladding

• Tiling battens

• Timber frames

• Timber joists

Is wood a hazardous waste? What is hazardous wood?

Hazardous wood refers to wood that contains substances or properties that pose a risk to human health or the environment. This can include wood that has been treated with preservatives or chemicals.

What do you do now?

For anyone working in the C&D industry, you will now have to consider the way in which wood waste from pre 2007 buildings, as listed above, is handled. So put simply, non-hazardous waste wood needs to be separated from potentially hazardous waste wood.

For more guidance you can visit the government website for details.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.