Find out more about where you can take the waste produced on your farm.
Where can I take my waste?
You can find places to take the waste you produce on your farm using our online Waste Directory. You can enter your postcode and search by waste type to find the nearest recovery and disposal sites which are able to accept your waste.
Duty of Care
You have a 'Duty of Care' to ensure your waste is dealt with appropriately. You must check that anybody you give your waste to is authorised to take it. If you use a waste carrier to pick up your waste, you must check the person or company is registered with the Environment Agency. You can do this by:
- checking our online public register;
- calling us on 0845 603 3113;
- asking the person or company to show you their waste carriers certificate.
If they cannot prove they are a registered waste carrier do not give them your waste. If you don’t check that somebody taking your waste is authorised to take it and the waste is then fly-tipped, you could be liable and may even be fined.
If you take your own waste to a site, you must check that they have a permit or exemption which allows them to accept it.
When you pass your waste onto a waste carrier or to a waste management site you need to give them a transfer note. You must keep a copy of the transfer note for a minimum of two years. Further guidance on the Duty of Care, including an example waste transfer note, can be found in the following guidance document:
Moving other people’s waste
If you collect agricultural wastes from other farmers to take for disposal or recycling you will need to register as a lower tier carrier (this used to be known as a professional carrier).
Registering as a lower tier carrier is free and it lasts for life.
Please note that from October 2013 if you regularly** carry your own agricultural waste to a site for disposal you will need to register as a lower tier carrier. This is a one off registration and it is free.
**You would not have to register to be a lower tier carrier if your waste is normally collected by a waste contractor but for some reason you needed to transport your own farm waste on a one-off basis.
If you are collecting and transporting non-agricultural waste, you will have to register in full as a waste carrier and pay a fee. You can find out how to register as a waste carrier here:
Moving hazardous waste
Tighter controls apply when moving hazardous waste such as batteries or unused medicines. You can find out more information here:
