To check waste carrier registration, the official public registers can be searched online: in England, the Environment Agency's register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers can be searched by business name, registration number or postcode, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own register. Checking that the business taking waste away is authorised to do so is part of the waste Duty of Care, which applies to every business that produces or handles waste.
This guide explains why the check forms part of the Duty of Care, who has to register as a carrier, what upper tier and lower tier mean, and where each UK register can be found.
Why the Duty of Care includes checking the carrier
The Duty of Care comes from section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Waste duty of care: code of practice applies to anyone who imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of certain waste, or who has control of it as a dealer or broker. It sets out reasonable measures that waste holders are expected to take, including:
- preventing unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste
- preventing the escape of waste from their control
- making sure any person the waste is transferred to has the correct authorisation
- providing an accurate description of the waste when it is transferred
The code states that a business should check whether a person or business is authorised to take waste before the waste is transferred to them. An authorised person includes someone with a valid registration as a carrier, broker or dealer of waste, or a waste management operator with an environmental permit or registered exemption to accept that waste.
The code also notes that any checks made can be recorded and used as evidence that the Duty of Care has been met. It applies in England and Wales, and businesses registered in Scotland or Northern Ireland that deal with waste in England or Wales also follow it. Our guide to the duty of care explained covers the wider duty in more detail.
Registered waste carrier or waste carrier licence
People often talk about a "waste carrier licence", but the official term is a registration. The government guidance on registering as a waste carrier, broker or dealer explains that a business needs to register if it:
- transports waste (a carrier)
- buys, sells or disposes of waste (a dealer)
- arranges for someone else to buy, sell or dispose of waste (a broker)
Once registered, the organisation's details appear on the public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers.
Upper tier and lower tier registration
Registrations are split into two tiers. When a business registers in England, it is told whether its registration is upper tier or lower tier.
In Wales, Natural Resources Wales explains that lower tier also includes charities and voluntary organisations, some waste authorities, and those who only handle animal by-products, waste from a mine or quarry, or waste from agricultural premises.
Upper tier registrations in England have to be renewed every 3 years, while lower tier registrations do not need renewing. Some registers, such as the one for Wales, show an expiry date for each entry.
How to check waste carrier registration in England
The government's overview of managing your waste lists checking that the waste carrier is registered alongside other business responsibilities, such as completing a waste transfer note for each load that leaves the premises. It also says businesses must not allow a carrier to dispose of their waste illegally.
The Environment Agency public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers is the register for England. It can be searched by:
- business name
- registration number
- address (full or partial)
- postcode, with an option to search within a set distance
- tier (upper tier, lower tier or both)
The Duty of Care code of practice also notes that registration in England can be checked by calling the Environment Agency, as an alternative to the online search.
For businesses producing hazardous waste, carrier checks sit alongside other paperwork. Our guides on whether you need a consignment note and the roles of the producer, holder, carrier and consignee explain how these fit together.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Carrier registration is handled by a different regulator in each nation, and each keeps its own register. For a wider comparison, see our article on hazardous waste rules across the UK nations.
- Scotland: the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) authorises waste transport under its environmental authorisations regime. It distinguishes between transporting waste produced by another person and transporting only a business's own waste, and both need a registration. Authorisations can be looked up on SEPA's public register.
- Wales: Natural Resources Wales (NRW) runs the waste carriers, brokers and dealers public register for Wales. It can be searched by fields including registration number, business name, address, postcode, registration tier and expiry date.
- Northern Ireland: the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), registers companies and individuals who transport controlled waste. DAERA publishes two registered carriers databases, one for upper tier and one for lower tier.
Related services
Carrier registration is relevant to every waste stream that leaves a site. We provide chemical waste disposal, oil disposal and ibc recycling for businesses across a range of sectors. Where a question about registration or responsibilities falls into a grey area, speak to our team.
Speak to our team
To discuss your waste, contact our team on 0845 366 9306 or email enquire@hazardousdisposal.co.uk.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional, legal or chemical advice. Waste producers are legally responsible for correctly classifying their waste. For guidance on your specific waste, please contact our team.