Environment & Sustainability

Waste management: compliance checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your waste management business (SIC division 38) meets its obligations before you begin operating. Work through the universal workplace items every operator shares, then the activity-specific environmental, registration and tax duties. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

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Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Use this checklist to confirm your waste management business meets its obligations before you begin operating. Work through each item and answer yes or no. If you answer no, follow the guide named in that item before you proceed.

Workplace health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain and by HSENI in Northern Ireland. Environmental regulation is devolved: the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, SEPA in Scotland and the NIEA in Northern Ireland. Landfill tax is also devolved. Each section names the body that applies.

Section 1 — Every waste management business

These workplace, insurance and registration duties apply to every operator, whatever waste activity you carry on. Confirm each one before you begin operating.

  1. 1

    Have you written your site-specific health and safety risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

    Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your people. Risk-assess vehicle movements, plant operation, manual handling, dust and bioaerosol exposure, needlestick injuries and chemical contact. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe waste management operation".

  2. 2

    Have you carried out your fire risk assessment?

    Waste sites carry significant fire risk from stockpiled combustible waste, lithium-ion batteries and hot work. Assess fire risk under the fire-safety regime for your nation and maintain your precautions. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe waste management operation".

  3. 3

    Do you hold employers' liability insurance?

    Hold at least £5 million of cover once you employ anyone. Display or make available the certificate issued by your insurer. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe waste management operation".

  4. 4

    Do you meet your equality and data protection duties?

    Do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010 (or separate NI equality law enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland); and comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, registering with the ICO unless exempt. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe waste management operation".

Section 2 — Waste-sector regulatory duties

These activity-specific duties apply depending on what you do. Confirm each one that applies to your operation.

  1. 1

    Are you registered as a waste carrier, broker or dealer?

    If you transport controlled waste or arrange its disposal or recovery, you must hold an upper- or lower-tier registration with the Environment Agency (or NRW, SEPA or DAERA). If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  2. 2

    Are your waste duty of care procedures in place?

    Waste must be stored securely, described accurately, transferred only to an authorised person, and documented with waste transfer notes (kept for at least two years). If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  3. 3

    Do you hold the environmental permit your waste facility needs?

    Transfer stations, treatment plants, incinerators and landfills need a bespoke or standard-rules permit from the Environment Agency (or devolved equivalent), with a technically competent manager and financial provision. If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  4. 4

    Do you hold the environmental permit your recovery operation needs?

    Materials recovery facilities, metal-recycling sites and dismantling operations need an environmental permit or a registered exemption. If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  5. 5

    If you dismantle ELVs, do you hold an ATF permit?

    Dismantling end-of-life vehicles must be done at an authorised treatment facility with a permit covering depollution and impermeable storage. If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  6. 6

    Are your hazardous waste consignment procedures in place?

    Hazardous waste must move under consignment notes, be classified correctly using the List of Wastes, and records must be kept for at least three years. Quarterly returns are required if you receive hazardous waste. If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

  7. 7

    If you operate a landfill, are you registered for landfill tax?

    Register with HMRC (England), Revenue Scotland or the Welsh Revenue Authority. Account for landfill tax at the standard or lower rate and file quarterly returns. If not, follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties".

If you answered no to anything

Work through the guide named in that item before you begin operating. The two task guides — "Set up and run a safe waste management operation" (the universal spine) and "Meet your waste management regulatory duties" (the activity-specific duties) — set out what to do. Start from "Which waste management regulations apply to your business" if you are not sure which apply to you.

Official sources

Authoritative waste management and environmental guidance.