Guide
Registering as a waste carrier
How to register as a waste carrier, broker or dealer. Covers upper tier and lower tier registration, fees, exemptions, and renewal requirements for businesses that transport waste.
If your business transports waste, you must register as a waste carrier with the environment regulator before you start. This applies whether you're carrying your own waste or other people's waste.
Operating without registration is a criminal offence. You could face an unlimited fine and your vehicle may be seized.
Why registration matters
Waste carrier registration is part of the waste duty of care system. It helps ensure waste is handled properly from production to disposal, and makes it easier to trace waste if it's illegally dumped.
Businesses that produce waste have a duty to check their waste collector is registered. If they use an unregistered carrier and the waste is fly-tipped, the original business can be held liable.
Upper tier vs lower tier registration
There are two levels of waste carrier registration. The tier you need depends on whose waste you transport and what type of waste it is.
Who needs upper tier registration
You need upper tier registration if you:
- transport other people's waste for payment (waste collection services)
- transport construction or demolition waste, even if it's your own
- act as a waste broker (arranging waste transfers for others)
- act as a waste dealer (buying or selling waste)
Construction businesses take note: Even if you only carry waste from your own building projects, you need upper tier registration because construction and demolition waste is always upper tier.
Who needs lower tier registration
Lower tier registration applies if you:
- only transport waste you produced yourself in the normal course of your business (except construction/demolition waste)
- are a waste collection authority, waste disposal authority or waste regulation authority
- are a registered charity and only carry waste you produced
Example: A restaurant transporting its own food waste to a composting facility would need lower tier registration. But a skip hire company would need upper tier.
How to register
Register online through the GOV.UK service. You'll need a Government Gateway account.
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Check which tier you need
Review the criteria above. If in doubt, register for upper tier - it covers all activities that lower tier covers, plus more.
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Prepare your business information
You'll need: business name and address, company registration number (if applicable), contact details, and details of any relevant convictions for you or your directors/partners.
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Go to the registration service
Use the GOV.UK waste carrier registration service at gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration. You'll need Government Gateway credentials.
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Select registration type
Choose upper tier or lower tier. If registering as a broker or dealer as well as carrier, select all that apply.
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Declare any relevant convictions
You must declare convictions for environmental offences, fraud, or other relevant matters. Having convictions doesn't automatically prevent registration but failing to declare them can.
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Pay the fee (upper tier only)
Pay by debit or credit card. Lower tier registration is free.
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Receive your registration number
You'll get a registration number immediately. Upper tier registration is valid for 3 years. Lower tier is valid indefinitely.
Exemptions from registration
Some activities don't require waste carrier registration:
- Householders taking their own household waste to a recycling centre
- Emergency services acting in an emergency
- Collecting waste for charity (but you may still need lower tier registration)
If you're unsure whether you need to register, it's usually safer to register. Lower tier registration is free and indefinite.
Renewal and keeping details up to date
Upper tier: Your registration expires after 3 years. You'll receive a reminder before expiry. Renew before it expires to avoid operating illegally.
Lower tier: Registration doesn't expire and you don't need to renew unless it's revoked.
Updating details: Notify the Environment Agency within 28 days if your business details change (address, company structure, directors). There's a fee of £48 for updating an upper tier registration in England.
The regulator can revoke your registration if you're convicted of a relevant offence or if you provided false information when registering.
Penalties for operating without registration
Transporting waste without valid registration is a criminal offence. Penalties include:
- Unlimited fine on conviction
- Vehicle seizure - your vehicle, trailer or mobile plant can be seized and held as evidence
- Criminal record - convictions must be declared on future registrations
The Environment Agency and local authorities actively check waste carriers. They can stop vehicles and demand to see registration documents.
Checking other carriers are registered
If you're producing waste and using a collection service, you have a duty to check they're registered. Use the public register to verify.