Advice on Starting Your Own Waste Disposal Service

If you are thinking of starting up your own waste disposal business or you already transport waste as part of your job, you are legally required to be registered with the Environment Agency as a ‘waste carrier’ – this applies to self-employed people as well as larger organisations. You must register even if you only transport waste occasionally.

It is an offence not to be transport waste without being registered – this can lead to prosecution, leading to a fine of up to £5000 or an on the spot fixed penalty of £300. It is also an offence for people to use your services if you are not registered, so it’s in your interest to advertise that you are.

Even if you are transporting processed waste material, you may still need to be registered if the product is still classed as waste.

If you are a charity or voluntary organisation you must register as a waste transporter.

If you are a householder and are transporting your own waste (and it is not construction or demolition waste) then you do not need to register.

For more information or to get a registration form please follow go to the Environment Agency's waste carriers web page.