Producers and holders

You must follow these steps in England if your business: produces hazardous waste holds or stores hazardous waste has hazardous waste removed from its premises Classify your waste to check if it’s hazardous. Separate and store hazardous waste safely. Use authorised businesses to collect, recycle or dispose of your hazardous waste – check that waste carriers are registered and waste sites have environmental permits. Fill in the parts of the consignment note that apply to you – keep one copy and give 2 copies to the carrier collecting your waste. Keep records (known as a ‘register’) for 3 years at the premises that produced or stored the waste. Records you must keep You must keep your copies of: consignment notes consignee returns – you’ll get these from businesses that receive your waste (consignees) any related documents, for example ‘carrier schedules’ (list of carriers when there is more than one), records of rejected loads If these documents are not accurate or complete, you must keep a record of any missing information. Extra requirements You must meet extra requirements in these situations. Your waste is rejected You must follow the guidance on rejected loads if your hazardous waste is rejected by the destination site you sent it to. You transport your own waste You must meet the requirements for carriers if you transport any hazardous waste from your own or another business. You receive, treat or dispose of waste You must meet the requirements for consignees if you: receive hazardous waste – this includes deliveries of waste from your own business treat or dispose of hazardous waste on your business premises – this includes your own waste

You must follow these steps if your business collects and transports hazardous waste in England (for example you’re a waste carrier, or you move your own waste). Register as a waste carrier . Check parts A and B of the consignment note and the waste before you accept it – make sure the waste is classified correctly . Separate waste correctly when you load it for transportation. Fill in the part of the consignment note that applies to you . Leave one copy of the consignment note with the waste producer or holder and keep 2 copies – these must stay with the waste until it reaches its destination. Take the waste to the destination on the consignment note – it must be an authorised waste site . Keep records (known as a ‘register’) for one year. You must keep records at your head office. Records you must keep You must keep copies of: consignment notes any related documents, for example ‘carrier schedules’ (list of carriers when there is more than one), records of rejected loads If these documents are not accurate or complete, you must keep a record of any missing information. You’re a waste dealer or broker Ask the waste producer or holder for copies of their records. You must keep these for 3 years. Check what other registration requirements and responsibilities you may need to meet. Your waste delivery is rejected You must follow the guidance on rejected loads if a consignee rejects the hazardous waste you’re transporting.

You must follow these steps if you receive, treat or dispose of hazardous waste at premises in England. Get an environmental permit or register an exemption for your premises. Check the consignment note and waste before you accept it – make sure it’s classified correctly . Reject the waste if the consignment note is missing, incorrect or incomplete. Fill in part E of the consignment note for any hazardous waste you accept or reject – keep one copy and hand one copy back to the carrier. Send consignee returns to the Environment Agency, and the waste producer or holder, to report on any hazardous waste you accept or reject. Keep records (known as a ‘register’). You must keep records at the site where the hazardous waste was stored, treated or disposed. Records you must keep You must keep: consignment notes any related documents, for example ‘carrier schedules’ (list of carriers when there is more than one), records of rejected loads a site inventory that records where waste was stored, treated or disposed of at your waste site – keep this in a secure, marked area that’s accessible in emergencies Site inventories for tipped waste ‘Tipped waste’ (permanent waste storage, for example landfill) includes: Type of storage Disposal code (from the Waste Framework Directive ) Deposit into or onto land, for example landfill D1 Land treatment D2 Deep injection D3 Surface impoundment D4 Specially engineered landfill D5 Release into a water body except seas or oceans D6 Permanent storage D12 Your site inventory must be a site plan that shows where hazardous waste is stored at your waste site together with its: consignment note code – get this from the consignee return if there’s no consignment note waste description including the waste classification code, its chemical components and hazardous properties Use either a grid or contour lines to divide up your site plan. Site inventories for all other waste operations These requirements are for all waste operations other than tipped waste, including: disposal by other methods treatment recovery incineration Your site inventory can be a site plan or table showing the location of waste at your site together with: its consignment note code – get this from the consignee return if there’s no consignment note information cross-referencing each incoming or outgoing waste (waste transfer activities only) You must also keep records for each delivery of hazardous waste you accept at your site – include: its weight in kilograms its waste description including the waste classification code, its chemical components and hazardous properties the name, address and postcode of the waste holder or producer it came from the disposal or recovery method you applied to the waste How long you must keep records The type of waste site you have determines how long you keep records. Type of record How long you must keep it Landfill site (disposal codes D1 to D6 and D12) All records As long as you have a permit Other waste site with a permit Consignment notes 5 years Other waste site with a permit Site inventory and all other records As long as you have a permit Waste sites with an exemption All records 3 years You must send your records to the Environment Agency if you give up or lose your permit.

You must use consignment notes to move hazardous waste. A consignment note must stay with hazardous waste until it reaches its final destination. Fill in a consignment note Read the consignment notes guidance . Download a consignment note form . Fill in the parts that apply to you. Use a continuation sheet if you need more space. The part that applies to you depends on your role in the waste process. Your role Part you must complete Producer A and B Holder (stores waste) A and B Carrier (collects and transports waste) C Consignor (hands the waste to the carrier) D Consignee (receives waste for recycling or disposal) E You’re the waste producer or holder You’ll need to know both the: Standard Industrial Classification ( SIC ) code (2007) – this describes the business activity that produced the waste waste classification code , also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code – this describes the waste Get consignment notes another way You can also: use a note from your waste contractor or write your own – it must include the information on the form buy consignment notices from the Environment Agency – these have 3 colour-coded copies Environment Agency Telephone: 03708 506 506 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Email: hwreturnsteam@environment-agency.gov.uk Find out about call charges

Consignee returns are reports on any hazardous waste received, treated or disposed of by a business (the ‘consignee’). You’re a waste producer or holder You should get consignee returns every quarter from the consignee dealing with your hazardous waste. Ask for consignee returns in writing if you do not get them – you need them to keep records . You should contact the Environment Agency and stop using a waste business if they do not provide consignee returns. You’re a consignee You must send consignee returns every quarter to the: Environment Agency the waste producer or holder You must send separate consignee returns to the Environment Agency and the waste producer or holder. You cannot send copies of the same document to both. Read the consignee returns guidance for help with filling in your consignee returns. Send consignee returns to the Environment Agency Fill in the consignee returns spreadsheet . Send the spreadsheet to the Environment Agency - either email it to hazwastereturn@environment-agency.gov.uk or upload it online (in Wales email it to waleshazreturns@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk ). Read the consignee returns guidance for other ways you can send your returns. Deadlines Reporting period Deadline January to March 30 April April to June 31 July July to September 31 October October to December 31 January Fees Fees are per consignment of waste and depend on whether the consignment formed part of a multiple collection (if it came from multiple locations) or not. The fees are: single consignment - £10 (electronic returns) or £19 (paper returns) multiple collection - £5 (electronic returns) or £10 (paper returns)

Contact the Environment Agency

Contact the Environment Agency if you have any questions about hazardous waste. Environment Agency Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk Telephone: 03708 506 506 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges

Hazardous waste

Overview

You must make sure hazardous waste produced or handled by your business in England causes no harm or damage.

You have responsibilities known as your ‘duty of care’. You must also meet extra requirements depending on whether you’re a waste:

producer or holder (you produce or store waste)
carrier (you collect and transport waste)
consignee (you receive waste, such as for recycling or disposal)

Check what you need to do in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

There are different requirements for exporting waste.

Check if your waste is hazardous

Waste is generally considered hazardous if it (or the material or substances it contains) are harmful to humans or the environment. Examples of hazardous waste include:

asbestos
chemicals, such as brake fluid or print toner
batteries
solvents
pesticides
oils (except edible ones), such as car oil
equipment containing ozone depleting substances, like fridges
hazardous waste containers

Classify your waste to find out if it is hazardous.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Hazardous waste

Overview

Check if your waste is hazardous

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Hazardous waste

Overview

Check if your waste is hazardous

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK