In England, GOV.UK guidance on how to dispose of hazardous waste states that a consignment note must be used whenever hazardous waste is moved, including when it is collected from business premises. This article explains what a hazardous waste consignment note is, who is involved in completing it and what records are kept. It is written for businesses in England that produce or hold hazardous waste.
When is a hazardous waste consignment note needed?
According to GOV.UK, a hazardous waste consignment note is needed to move hazardous waste from business premises, including when it is moved between premises. GOV.UK lists limited exceptions, which are set out on the same page.
Who completes the consignment note?
GOV.UK describes duties for each party involved in moving hazardous waste:
- The producer or holder fills in the parts describing the waste and signs to confirm the information is correct.
- The carrier completes the carrier details and signs when the waste is collected.
- The consignee (the site receiving the waste) completes its part and sends returns as required.
GOV.UK sets out what information each part of the note must include, such as the waste description, the EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code, quantities and the hazardous properties.
How long are records kept?
GOV.UK states that producers and holders must keep copies of consignment notes and related records for three years. Carriers and consignees have their own record keeping duties, also described on GOV.UK.
How this links to your wider duty of care
Consignment notes form part of the wider waste duty of care, which applies to anyone who produces, keeps, carries or disposes of waste. Our guide to Duty of Care for waste producers covers this in more detail.
What we need before a collection
Before we can quote for or collect hazardous waste, we require:
- a copy of the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for each product or substance
- an assigned EWC code for each waste stream
- a description of the waste and the approximate quantity
We cannot accept unknown waste. Where a waste has not been identified, speak to our team about what it is and where it came from. If further identification is needed, and only if agreed, we can arrange a testing and analysis service before a collection is booked.
Speak to our team
For collections such as chemical waste disposal or COSHH waste disposal, contact the Hazardous Disposal team with your SDS and EWC codes to hand.
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.