Waste Carriers

Are you affected?
What is required?
Fees
How can I check if a carrier is registered?
Current situation
Further information

 

Are you affected?

Any business that carries somebody else’s waste must be a registered waste carrier. If you are having waste collected, it is a requirement of the Duty of Care that you ensure the person collecting the waste is a registered waste carrier.
There are exemptions:

• If you carry your own waste other than building or demolition waste
• If you are moving waste within a premises

This means that it is not just waste management companies that must register. The type of activities requiring registration includes:

• Building/Construction
• Painter/Decorator
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Glazier
• Roofing Contractor
• Carpenter/Joiner
• Waste Paper Recycling
• Metal Recycling
• Glass Recycling
• Vehicle Dismantler
• Plastics Recycling
• Bulk Transporter/Haulier
• Tanker Transport
• Gardener/Landscaper
• Demolition Contractor
• Waste Management Contractor
• Skip Hire
• Special Waste Transport
• Clinical Waste Transport

From September 2010, new Regulations will require any business that carry's waste, regardless of whether it is theirs or someone elses, to register obtain a Waste Carriers Licence.

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What is required?

Waste Carrier’s Certificates are issued by the Environment Agency in England and Wales, SEPA in Scotland and the NIEA in Northern Ireland. The appropriate Agency will issue a certificate which is valid for 3 years. The registration number on this certificate must be shown on a waste transfer note. The forms are fairly lengthy and must be signed by someone who is authorised to sign in a limited company or all the partners in a partnership.

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Fees

The fee’s vary between Agencies and are subject to change annually. As at 1 Apr 2010:

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How can I check if a carrier is registered?

The Environment Agency operates an On-line Public Register where you can check to find a registered waste carrier or check the validity of someone claiming to be a registered Waste Carrier.

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Current situation

The Waste Carrier’s requirements are currently under review. The government issued a consultation document in June 2008 but as yet, has not indicated what the final outcome of the review will be. However, it is known that due to a recent European Court of Justice ruling, the Waste Carrier registration requirements WILL be applied to any business carrying their own waste.

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Further information

Defra

EA

SEPA

NIEA

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