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This guidance applies to aerobic and anaerobic processes including:

• composting in open-air and closed (in vessel) systems
• aerobic processing of organic fractions by mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) and mechanical heat treatment (MHT)
• thermophilic aerobic digestion (TAD)
• anaerobic digestion (AD) including the combustion or upgrading of the resulting biogas and treating the digestate (anaerobic treatment can include wet, dry and dry-batch digestion)
• aerated lagoons and activated sludge (as a waste water treatment)
• collecting and storing methane from lagoons and tanks and upgrading to biomethane
• treating sewage sludge using any of these biological processes
• storing feedstock, compost and digestate
• receiving wastes destined for biological treatment

There is overlap between best available techniques (BAT) for waste installations and necessary measures for waste operations. The Environment Agency uses the term appropriate measures to cover both sets of requirements.

This guidance sets out what you must consider when you assess the appropriate measures for your facility. It is not definitive and it does not replace your obligation to assess appropriate measures fully for your site.

Some measures may not be suitable for or relevant to your operation. Appropriate measures will depend on the:

• complexity of the activities being carried out
• size and nature of the activities
• location of the site

Where an operator wants to propose an alternative measure, this must achieve the same level of environmental protection. The operator must also provide evidence of why the alternative is equivalent to (or better than) what this guidance proposes.

In certain situations, a higher standard of environmental protection may be needed, for example:

• where there are local sensitive receptors
• if the facility is affecting the local environment or human health despite using appropriate measures
• if there is a risk that you may breach an Environmental Quality Standard

Other technical guidance relating to emissions, odour and noise may also apply.

Where the biological treatment is directly connected or associated with another regulated activity or process, specific technical guidance may apply.

Operations that are permitted to accept, store, handle, treat or transfer the following wastes must also comply with the requirements in Chemical waste: appropriate measures for permitted facilities:

• hazardous waste
• mirror entry waste
• laboratory smalls
• chemicals

Combustion plant with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 1 megawatt (but less than 50 megawatts) must have a permit and comply with the relevant requirements of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/2193). Specified generators which are used to generate electricity must also have a permit and comply with the relevant requirements of the specified generator regulations. Additional guidance is available from the Environment Agency.