Get rid of waste the right way
Plain-English guides to the rules on household waste in the UK, with links to the official pages so you can check for yourself.
Popular guides
How to check a waste carrier is registered
Anyone who takes your waste away as a business must be a registered waste carrier. Here is how to check in a few minutes, and the warning signs to look for.
Your household waste duty of care
Householders in England have a legal duty to make sure their waste goes to the right person. What that means, what councils can do, and how to protect yourself.
Fly-tipping: what to do and who is responsible
What counts as fly-tipping, how to report it, and why handing waste to the wrong person can make you responsible. Plain-English help for UK householders.
Getting rid of bulky items: your options
Sofas, mattresses, fridges and old furniture: the legal ways to get rid of bulky household items in the UK, from council collections to registered carriers.
Skip hire or man and van: which is right?
Skip hire or a man and van? How the two compare for household clearances in the UK, what a skip permit is, and what to check before you book.
Questions to ask before hiring someone to take your waste
A short checklist of questions to ask a rubbish removal company before you book: registration, insurance, where the waste goes and what paperwork you will get.
Waste transfer notes: what householders need to know
What a waste transfer note is, whether you need one for household waste, and why keeping a receipt from your waste carrier is a good idea.
How we write these guides
- We explain the rules in plain English and link to the official source.
- Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed and where it applies.
- We are independent. We are not a government service. Read more.