Following the issue of RPS C23 on 18 November, the EA has since published an update to this RPS which sets out when you can incinerate COVID-19 infectious waste at a municipal incinerator without needing to vary your permit to do so.
The update amends the RPS by removing the word ‘infectious’ where appropriate, removing the reference to ‘yellow bagged’, and setting out the waste types correctly.
The type of healthcare waste is limited to certain streams and cannot include sharps waste.
The edit made by the EA on 18 December aims to clarify that the Environment Agency will only provide written agreement for using this COVID-19 RPS where the Cabinet Office and Defra have confirmed there are no other appropriate options available for treating or incinerating the waste.