T9 scrap metal exemption to be withdrawn from April 2027: what it means for yards and sellers

The government has confirmed that the T9 waste exemption is being withdrawn in England from 6 April 2027. T9 is the rule that lets sites sort, grade, bale and shear scrap metal without a full environmental permit.

The Environment Agency published the detail on GOV.UK on 21 October, and the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) flagged it to members on 23 October.

What’s changing

• T9 (recovering scrap metal), T8 (end-of-life tyres) and U16 (parts from depolluted vehicles) are withdrawn on 6 April 2027. Operators need to apply for a waste environmental permit before then, or stop the activity. They can keep working under the exemption while a permit application is processed.
• Other exemptions are tightened. T4 (storing and preparing waste for further treatment) and T6 (treating waste wood and plant matter) have a transition ending 6 July 2027. S1 and S2 (secure storage) run to 6 January 2028.
• Sites with a permit are affected too. Exemptions “technically connected” to a permitted activity must be brought into the permit by 6 July 2027, or stop.
• Storage limits get tighter. From 6 July 2027, the amount of each waste type stored across several exemptions on one site is capped at the lowest limit among them.
• It isn’t law yet. The rules need parliamentary approval, expected before 17 December 2026, and take effect on 6 January 2027 if approved.

What T9 covers today

T9 allows sorting, grading, manual-feed shearing, baling, crushing and cutting with hand-held equipment. Sites can hold up to 1,000 tonnes at any one time, including up to 50 tonnes of cable, stored for up to 24 months. That describes a lot of what smaller sites do day to day.

Who’s affected

Exemption holders in England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland aren’t covered, and neither are sites that already hold a permit and use no exemptions.

What it could mean for yards and buyers

Smaller operators now have a decision to make: apply for a permit, or stop the activity. The GOV.UK guidance doesn’t give permit costs or processing times, so those are the questions to put to the Environment Agency early. Some sites may change how they work, and that could affect where loads can go locally.

What to watch

• Parliament’s decision on the regulations before 17 December.
• Any further guidance from the Environment Agency on permit applications.
• How quickly operators move from exemptions to permits ahead of April.

Sources: GOV.UK: Waste exemptions: new rules from January 2027 · GOV.UK: Waste exemption T9: recovering scrap metal · BMRA: Important update regarding T9 exemptions