Farmers Not Wasting Time To Register For Exemptions
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has thanked farmers for the way they have responded to the start of a campaign to register their waste exemptions.
This ensures waste on their land is dealt with in a way that doesn’t harm people or the environment.
Many last registered for an exemption in 2013. But these are now about to expire and need to be re-registered.
One month into the campaign, more than 750 farmers have already registered – with most doing so online. This is significantly up on the same time in 2013.
However, many thousands still need to register and NRW is urging them to do so as soon as possible, rather than wait until the deadline at the end of September.
One who has already done so is Andrew Wigley, a dairy farmer living near Welshpool.
Andrew needs an exemption to burn green waste, import recycled waste paper for cattle bedding and to use building waste to create tracks, for example.
After hearing that he could register online he visited the NRW website and registered.
Andrew said:
“Three years ago I registered for a waste exemption by post.
“But this time I thought I’d register online to save myself the trouble of completing a form by hand and posting it.
“I was very happy to find how easy it was – it took me less than 10 minutes.
“It’s good to tick this off my long list of things to do and I know that I am now OK to deal with my waste on the farm without a permit for the next three years.”
Not registering or complying with waste exemption can lead to farmers facing penalties.
And NRW also reminds farmers that they would be committing a criminal offence if they carry out a waste operation without having an exemption or a permit.
Caroline Hawkins Customer Care Manager for NRW said:
“We’ve devised the online system to try and make it as simple as possible for people to register – and the evidence from July suggests that the people who are using it agree.
“It really shouldn’t take long to complete and we’d encourage farmers to do so as soon as possible rather than wait until the end of the three month period.
“Our environment provides us with our basic needs, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.
“Registering for these exemptions demonstrates that farmers understand what they need to do to help protect these valuable natural resources.”
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