Access the public register for environmental information
How to access the Environment Agency's public registers of environmental information.
Applies to England
The Environment Agency regulates businesses and individuals who want to carry out activities that could pollute or negatively affect the environment. They issue licenses, permits, registrations and exemptions. These give people permission to carry out their activity, provided they follow certain rules.
The Environment Agency publishes information about these permissions on public registers so anyone can see it.
Search for information about environmental permits
You can use the public registers to find information about environmental permits for:
Search for information about registered exemptions
Some activities are exempt from needing an environmental permit, but the operator must register that they are carrying out that activity. There are strict rules and conditions they must follow to be able to register an exemption.
You can search the public register for registered exemptions for these activities:
Find a registered waste carrier
Search the public register to find registered waste carriers, brokers and dealers.
Find a licensed scrap metal dealer
Search the public registers to find a licensed scrap metal dealer.
Search Environment Agency prosecutions
The enforcement action register has information on formal cautions and prosecutions the Environment Agency has taken against companies.
For information on enforcement actions against individuals, contact the Environment Agency’s National Customer Contact Centre. The information it can release about individuals may be affected by data protection law and other relevant legal considerations.
Enforcement action information only covers the period from 2000 to the present.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
The Environment Agency holds public register information collected under the WEEE regulations. Use the WEEE public registers to find information about:
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EEE producers
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WEEE approved producer compliance schemes
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WEEE approved authorised treatment facilities and approved exporters
Packaging and batteries
On the National Packaging Waste Database you can find public registers of:
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battery or packaging producers
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compliance schemes
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battery treatment operators or exporters
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packaging reprocessors
Large raised reservoirs
The Environment Agency manages a register of large raised reservoirs.
You can email reservoirs@environment-agency.gov.uk to request a copy of this information.
Request a copy of a document
Once you have found the public register information you are interested in, you can ask the Environment Agency to send you a copy of the relevant permit or licence.
Contact us
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Updates to this page
Last updated 13 January 2023 + show all updates
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Updated the information on how to access environmental information held by the Environment Agency on public registers.
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Updated link to access end of life vehicle authorised treatment facilities public register.
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Removed text "and if there will be a charge" from Viewing public registers in Environment Agency offices section
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Removed Hazardous waste producers section and updated links to point to new Public Registers service
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Waste exemptions public registers have been merged. Access public register through link provided.
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Added section 'Waste exemptions' about changes to the public register.
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Links to different public registers added in beginning list New Hazardous waste producers section Updated Viewing public registers in Environment Agency offices section
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Advice on how to obtain more detailed information about a waste carrier, dealer or broker. An improved register will be available shortly.
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Natural Resources Wales now provide their own public register for businesses based in Wales.
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Additional information added to redirect users to Natural Resources Wales Public Register for Hazardous Waste Producers, Enforcement Actions & Scrap Metal Dealers in Wales
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Changed information for how to access information for Waste Carriers and Brokers, including updating links to new upper and lower tier registrations
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Addition of information and link to Natural Resources Wales Public Register for Waste and Water Exemptions registrations in Wales, made after 20 October 2014
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Made links to the waste carrier registers clearer.
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Added information about visiting an Environment Agency office to view public registers.
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First published.