Update to Waste Acceptance at Bristol Treatment Centre

Changes to Hazardous Waste Acceptance (from 1 April 2026).

Dear Valued Customers,

The Environment Agency have notified us that they intend to amend the environmental permit issued to Bristol Treatment Centre. These updates form part of a wider programme to modernise older permits across the waste industry, so they meet current and emerging regulatory guidance.

As a result of these regulatory changes, from April 1st 2026 GENeco will no longer accept or treat any hazardous waste at Bristol Treatment Centre.

We understand you may have some questions about this, so please see below some additional information that may be of use:

1. Why is GENeco no longer accepting hazardous waste?

The Environment Agency is updating environmental permits as part of a national programme to modernise older environmental permits across the waste industry. As part of these updates, GENeco’s permit will no longer allow hazardous waste to be accepted or treated from 1 April 2026.

2. Is this GENeco’s decision?

No. This change is being introduced by the Environment Agency and applies across the wider industry, not just to GENeco.

3. Does this apply to all hazardous waste?

Yes. From 1 April 2026, no hazardous waste can be accepted in any form, regardless of concentration or how it is produced.

4. Will low level or borderline hazardous waste still be accepted?

No. If a waste stream is classified as hazardous under the regulations, it cannot be accepted after 1 April 2026.

5. Can hazardous waste be accepted under a different treatment route or process?

No. The updated permit does not allow hazardous waste to be received or treated under any route, exemption, or workaround.

6. Does this affect non-hazardous waste?

No. Non-hazardous waste services are not affected and will continue as normal.

7. What does this mean for my specific waste streams?

If you currently send us any hazardous waste, those streams will no longer be accepted after 1 April 2026. We can help review your classifications or recent analysis to confirm which of your waste types are affected.

8. Can GENeco help reclassify or blend waste to avoid hazardous status?

No. Waste must be classified accurately at the point it is produced. If it is hazardous, we cannot accept it.

9. When does the change take effect?

The final date GENeco can accept hazardous waste is 31 March 2026.
From 1 April 2026, no hazardous waste can be received.

10. Can I continue sending hazardous waste until the deadline?

Yes. Services will continue as normal until 1 April 2026.

11. What happens if hazardous waste is sent after 1 April 2026?

We will be unable to accept it. The load will need to be returned or redirected to another permitted facility.

12. Can GENeco recommend an alternative disposal site?

We can advise you to review other Environment Agency–permitted hazardous waste facilities. Specific recommendations depend on internal policy.

13. Will this change affect my contract?

Only hazardous waste services will end on 1 April 2026. All other
services remain unchanged.

14. Will there be any impact on pricing or service levels for non-hazardous waste?

No. This change only relates to hazardous waste acceptance.

15. Can GENeco store hazardous waste temporarily after the deadline?

No. The updated permit does not allow hazardous waste to be accepted or stored after 1 April 2026.