Work out whether you need to register as a waste carrier or broker, or whether you are exempt. Find out how to apply for, or renew, your registration.
Do I need to register as a waste carrier or broker of controlled waste?
The information below will help you work out whether you need to register as a waste carrier or broker, or whether you are exempt.
If you have already read the guidance below and now want to go straight to the registration process, then please click on the link below:
Carriers
Unless you qualify for an exemption, if you want to transport controlled waste in England and Wales as part of your business or with a view to profit, you need to register as a waste carrier. However, you don't need to do this if:
- you are carrying waste that you have produced, unless it is building or demolition waste;
- you are moving waste between different places within the same premises; you are transporting waste from outside Great Britain to a place within it and the waste is not landed in Great Britain until it arrives at that place;
- the waste is being transported by sea or air from a place in Great Britain to a place outside Great Britain.
Brokers
Unless you qualify for an exemption, if you want to deal in waste or arrange for someone else's waste to be disposed of or recovered, you need to register as a waste broker. However, you don't need to do this if:
- you're arranging for your own waste to be disposed of or recovered;
- you're arranging the disposal or recovery of someone else's waste and you are going to transport it as a registered carrier;
- you're arranging for someone else's waste to be disposed of or recovered if you are the operator of the authorised site where the waste is going to.
It doesn't matter whether you are a self-employed individual, a partnership, a company or another type of organisation. The law applies equally to all. It also doesn't matter if carrying or dealing in waste is not your main business or if you only do it occasionally. You still need to register.
If you carry waste or arrange for someone else's waste to be disposed of or recovered you could be prosecuted if you are not registered.
If your main place of business is in England or Wales, you should register with us. But registrations with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency are also valid in England and Wales. You can register as a carrier, a broker or both - it costs the same. Your registration lasts three years. You need to renew it before it expires if you want to keep it active.
How to register or renew
If you need to register or renew your application as a carrier or broker of controlled waste, you can either do this online or post your application form to us.
Register online
To register or renew as a waste carrier or broker online, visit the page below to submit your application:
Register by post
If you wish to register or renew your application by post please fill in the application form below:
Charges
The current charges (2010-11) for registering as a carrier or broker of controlled waste are:
- Registration of carriers and brokers: £154
- Renewal of registration: £104 (£105 after 30 September 2010)
- Registration of a broker who is already registered as a carrier of controlled waste: £40
- Registration of a carrier who is already registered as a broker : £40.
Please make cheques payable to 'The Environment Agency'.
Send your completed application to:
Environment Agency
Quadrant 2
99 Parkway Avenue
Parkway Business Park
Sheffield
S9 4WF
Guidance for applicants
