Environment & Sustainability

Which waste management regulations apply to your business

Every waste management business shares the same workplace-safety foundation, but the rules then diverge by what you do — whether you collect and transport waste, operate a treatment or disposal facility, run a materials recovery operation, or dismantle end-of-life vehicles. Work out which path applies to you before you go any further.

UK-wide
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UK-wide

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Waste collection, treatment, disposal and materials recovery is tightly regulated because of the risks waste poses to human health and the environment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates workplace safety in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland. Environmental regulation is devolved: the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency each administer carrier registration, duty-of-care enforcement and environmental permits in their nation. Beyond that foundation, the rules diverge by activity — carrier registration, environmental permits for treatment and recovery, authorised treatment facilities for end-of-life vehicles, hazardous waste controls and landfill tax.

What you need to do

Identify the description that best fits what you do. If more than one applies, follow every obligation that applies.

  1. 1

    Every waste management business

    Whatever waste activity you carry on, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe waste management operation" for your health and safety duties, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection obligations.

  2. 2

    You collect, transport, broker or deal in waste

    If you transport controlled waste or arrange its disposal or recovery, you must register as an upper- or lower-tier waste carrier, broker or dealer before you start. The section 34 duty of care binds everyone who handles waste. Follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties" for carrier registration, duty of care, hazardous waste controls and landfill tax.

  3. 3

    You operate a waste treatment or disposal facility

    Transfer stations, treatment plants, incinerators and landfill sites need an environmental permit or a registered exemption from the Environment Agency (or devolved equivalent). Follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties" for environmental permits and hazardous waste controls.

  4. 4

    You run a materials recovery facility

    Sorting and recovering materials for re-use needs an environmental permit or exemption. End-of-waste and quality-protocol criteria determine when recovered material ceases to be waste. Follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties" for recovery-operation permits.

  5. 5

    You dismantle end-of-life vehicles

    Dismantling end-of-life vehicles must be done at an authorised treatment facility with an environmental permit covering depollution and storage on impermeable surfaces. Follow "Meet your waste management regulatory duties" for ATF requirements.

  6. 6

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Whatever waste activity you carry on, finish with the waste management compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before you begin operating.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for waste management regulation.