You have a legal duty of care for your business waste from the moment it's produced until it's disposed of. This applies to all businesses regardless of size. Breaking these rules can lead to unlimited fines and up to 5 years in prison.
Your duty of care
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, you must:
- store waste safely and securely
- only transfer waste to registered waste carriers
- complete a waste transfer note or consignment note for each transfer
- keep records for the required period
- take all reasonable steps to prevent illegal disposal
Waste transfer notes
Complete a waste transfer note every time you transfer non-hazardous waste to another person. This includes when your regular waste collector takes it away.
Season tickets for regular collections
If you have regular waste collections of the same type going to the same place, use a season ticket instead of writing individual transfer notes each time.
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste has stricter requirements. You need consignment notes instead of transfer notes, and longer record-keeping periods.
Check your waste carrier is registered
Always verify that anyone taking your waste is registered before you transfer it. You can be held liable if your waste is fly-tipped, even if you paid what looked like a legitimate company.
Digital waste tracking rollout
The public beta launched in April 2026. Digital waste tracking becomes mandatory in England for permitted or licensed waste receiving sites from October 2026, and for waste carriers, brokers and dealers from October 2027.
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Identify your waste streams
List all waste types your business produces. Note any that may be hazardous - oils, solvents, fluorescent tubes, batteries, asbestos.
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Check waste carrier registration
Before any waste transfer, verify the carrier is registered on the public register for your nation.
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Complete waste transfer notes
For each non-hazardous waste transfer, complete a waste transfer note with all required information. Keep for 2 years.
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Use consignment notes for hazardous waste
Hazardous waste needs consignment notes. Keep producer records for 3 years at your premises.
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Set up season tickets for regular collections
For regular waste collections of the same type to the same destination, use a season ticket valid up to 12 months.
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Prepare for digital tracking
The public beta launched in April 2026; mandatory use starts from October 2026 for waste receiving sites and October 2027 for carriers, brokers and dealers. Review your record-keeping systems.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Official guidance
Natural Resources Wales / Hazardous waste: find out if and when you need to submit a return (opens in a new tab)
NRW
NIEA waste carrier registration (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK
NRW hazardous waste registration (opens in a new tab)
naturalresources.wales
SEPA waste guidance (opens in a new tab)
www.sepa.org.uk
Hazardous waste guidance (opens in a new tab)
Environment Agency
Healthcare waste guidance (opens in a new tab)
GOV.UK
Need to dispose chemicals (opens in a new tab)
HSE