Southwest Environmental Limited

Rules for Small Incinerators in UK

Rules for small incinerators in the UK are always changing, following our departure from the EU in 2021 they will likely change again. This is a brief review of rules as of February 2021, we are making this review as part of a feasibility study for a project. This page is not an exhaustive review of legal framework, and you should make you own investigations to validate information on this page.

Burning Waste

With the exception of burring garden waste you cannot burn waste in a fire in the UK, and even then you cannot cause "nuisance or pollution"; which is pretty generic, and leaves Environmental Health Officers and Environment Agency Officers to enforce on virtually any type of waste burning.

So how do you burn waste legally? It will have to be scientifically done, and with the correct paperwork to back it up. This will take months to arrange, so if you are looking for a short term solution . . .  this is not for you.

Small Incinerators

A "small" incinerator is a term that we have made up for this web page. But we are describing the type of incinerator a company might have for burning their own waste produced on site, and burnt to recover heat, burning less than 3 tonnes per hour. Which is quite a lot!

This type of small incinerator is called as a SWIP. Your will need a Part A(2) environmental permit from their local authority.

Part A(2) Permit

 This type of permit costs about £3500 to apply for, and £1400 a year thereafter. So you need to do some maths before you start to check this will save you money.

These application fees pale in significance next to hardware costs, which dependent of the type of waste you are burning can be very expensive, both in terms of capital outlay and ongoing costs.

Your System

If we focus on waste wood from now on as an example, then we might envisage using a piece of equipment similar to a large wood burning stove which we could load with our waste, ignite it and . . . well that would be it. Job done.

In reality this kind of system will not pass muster, for various reasons, mostly to do why & how an incinerator is built, which is [a] to get as much heat from waste as possible [b] minimise emissions.

• Primary and Secondary Combustion
• Air Control (for both stages)
• Cleaning of flue gases
• Addtional heat and or fuel for both stages
• Cleaning of flue gases

For more information on these factors please see how an incinerator is built or incinerator abatement.

In general the combustion chambers within an incinerator need to get hot very quickly, stay very hot the whole time they re burning waste, and the flu gases will still need to be cleaned to meet limit set in your permit.

A common problem with many waste burners that are sold as "part B compliant" of similar is that they create a lot of smoke whilst they are getting up to temperature, and as new waste is added additional smoke is created.

Conclusions

So although in practice burning waste in a small incinerator is a simple concept, it is hard to set up because of the rules and regulations that are in place.

Further Reading on this Subject

Incinerator Abatement

How to Build an Incinerator

Incineration of Waste in the UK

The below section was written by a machine.

Technical Analysis: Regulatory Framework for Small Waste Incineration Plants (SWIP)

Operating a Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) in the UK involves navigating a complex landscape of local and national regulations. These facilities are primarily defined by their capacity—typically burning less than 3 tonnes per hour of non-hazardous waste—and are regulated by Local Authorities rather than the Environment Agency. Compliance with Schedule 13 and Schedule 15 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations is mandatory to ensure environmental protection.

Core Regulatory Requirements for SWIPs

Unlike larger industrial incinerators, SWIPs must adhere to specific thresholds that dictate their permitting route. Ensuring the plant is correctly categorized from the outset is vital for project viability.

• Thresholds: Facilities burning more than 50kg per hour but less than 3 tonnes per hour of non-hazardous waste fall under the SWIP regime.
• Emission Standards: All plants must meet stringent emission limit values (ELVs) for particulates, carbon monoxide, and various chemical pollutants.
• Continuous Monitoring: Most permits require the installation of monitoring equipment to track flue gas temperature and emissions levels in real-time.
• Operational Control: Robust management systems must be in place, often mirroring the requirements of a full Environmental Management System (EMS).

Integration with Air Quality and Design

A critical component of a SWIP application is the technical evidence regarding flue gas treatment. This often requires the design of specialized incinerator abatement systems to ensure the plant does not negatively impact local air quality. When conducting an Air Quality Assessment, it is essential to demonstrate that the plant contributes to air quality neutrality, particularly in urban environments or sensitive ecological areas.

Professional Guidance and Planning Success

The successful delivery of a SWIP project requires early integration of technical data into the planning statement. Demonstrating how the plant contributes to the waste hierarchy and local energy needs can significantly improve the chances of obtaining consent. At SWEL, we provide the technical authority and accredited expertise (MIAQM/FGS) required to manage the entire process—from initial incinerator design and permitting to final operational compliance. With over 900 projects delivered nationwide, we offer the professional oversight needed to secure your project's regulatory standing.

Our team ensures that your small-scale incineration project is designed, permitted, and operated to the highest technical and environmental standards in the UK.