How to check a waste carrier is registered
Before anyone takes rubbish away from your home, check they are registered. It takes a few minutes and can save you a fine.
Why check
In England, businesses that carry other people’s waste, or arrange for it to be carried, must be registered with the Environment Agency. This includes man and van firms, skip companies and clearance services. If you hand your waste to someone who is not registered and it is dumped, the council can hold you responsible as well.
How to check
- Ask the carrier for their waste carrier registration number and their business name. A genuine carrier will give it straight away.
- Open the Environment Agency’s public register and search for the carrier by name or registration number.
- Check that the name on the register matches the business you are dealing with, and that the registration is current.
- Take a note of the vehicle registration and the company name before they load.
Warning signs
- They will not give a registration number, or the number does not match the name.
- Cash only, and no paperwork.
- The advert has only a mobile number and no business name or address.
- A price far below everyone else’s.
- They say they will “sort it at the tip” but will not say which one.
After the job
Ask for a receipt or a waste transfer note that describes the waste, the date and the carrier’s details. Keep it. You can also ask where the waste is going. See our guide to the household waste duty of care.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own registers and regulators, so check with Natural Resources Wales, SEPA (Scotland) or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
More guides
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.