Do I Need a Waste- Carrier Licence?
Anyone, not just waste contractors, that transports someone else’s waste as part of their trade or to make money must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency (EA). In addition, tradesmen transporting building, demolition or refurbishment rubbish they have created themselves must also be registered as a waste carrier.
The requirement to be licensed as a waste carrier applies regardless of where the waste is taken (whether back to the carrier’s own premises, another person’s premises, or directly to a licensed disposal facility) or whether the waste carrier is a one-man band, partnership or limited company.
You can check with the Environment Agency whether their license is valid at Authorised Waste Carriers or by calling 08708 506506. If they aren’t registered, don’t use them. They might seem like nice people, or their rates appear great value, but the likelihood is that the waste will end up on the side of the road or in a bonfire. Fly-tipping costs the UK more than £100m each year – so make sure your tax is spent on something better, don’t use cowboys.
What Happens If I Don't Register?
Failure to register as a waste carrier is illegal and, if caught, will result in criminal prosecution, including a fine and seizure of the vehicle used to transport the waste. In addition, because a considerable number of commercial contracts with large organisations include an obligation on the subcontractor to comply with the current environmental law, failure to comply with these obligations is likely to constitute a breach of contract.
What Does This Mean for People With Waster to Dispose Of?
The fact that the registration process is so easy means that waste carriers who aren’t licensed are likely to be cowboys who intend to dispose of the waste unlawfully. So, if you use contractors (like builders, landscape gardeners, tree surgeons, carpet fitters, skip hire companies, house clearance companies, furniture retailers, skip companies, or scrap metal merchants) who are removing waste items from your property, ask them for their waste carrier license number.
You can check with the Environment Agency whether their license is valid at Authorised Waste Carriers or by calling 08708 506506. If they aren’t registered, don’t use them. They might seem like nice people, or their rates appear great value, but the likelihood is that the waste will end up on the side of the road or in a bonfire. Fly-tipping costs the UK more than £100m each year – so make sure your tax is spent on something better, don’t use cowboys.
What Happens If I Don't Register?
Failure to register as a waste carrier is illegal and, if caught, will result in criminal prosecution, including a fine and seizure of the vehicle used to transport the waste. In addition, because a considerable number of commercial contracts with large organisations include an obligation on the subcontractor to comply with the current environmental law, failure to comply with these obligations is likely to constitute a breach of contract.
What Does This Mean for People With Waste to Dispose Of?
The fact that the registration process is so easy means that waste carriers who aren’t licensed are likely to be cowboys who intend to dispose of the waste unlawfully. So, if you use contractors (like builders, landscape gardeners, tree surgeons, carpet fitters, skip hire companies, house clearance companies, furniture retailers, skip companies, or scrap metal merchants) who are removing waste items from your property, ask them for their waste carrier license number.
You can check with the Environment Agency whether their license is valid at Authorised Waste Carriers or by calling 08708 506506. If they aren’t registered, don’t use them. They might seem like nice people, or their rates appear great value, but the likelihood is that the waste will end up on the side of the road or in a bonfire. Fly-tipping costs the UK more than £100m each year – so make sure your tax is spent on something better, don’t use cowboys.
