Environmental · Mandatory · Pre-Construction

Waste Carrier Licence Verification

A verification record confirming that any company removing waste from site holds a valid waste carrier licence.

Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. Environmental Protection Act 1990 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.

Legal basis	Environmental Protection Act 1990 + Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991
Status	Mandatory
Prepared by	Principal Contractor
Registration types	Upper tier (3-year renewal) / Lower tier
EA public register	Verify registration at environment-agency.gov.uk/search-register

1. Waste Carrier Verification — The Critical First Check

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the duty of care for waste means that the producer of waste retains responsibility for that waste until it reaches its final disposal or recovery destination. If waste is handed to an unregistered carrier who subsequently fly-tips it, the producer — the construction site — can be prosecuted for failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the waste was transferred to an authorised person. The consequences include unlimited fines, remediation costs, and reputational damage.

Verifying that a waste carrier is registered with the Environment Agency is a simple, two-minute check that can be carried out online using the EA public register. There is no excuse for not doing it. The check should be carried out before any waste is transferred to the carrier, and the result should be recorded in the project waste management records. Upper tier registrations are valid for three years and must be renewed; lower tier registrations do not expire but should still be verified.

The distinction between upper tier and lower tier registration is important. Upper tier registration is required for any person or business that transports controlled waste as a regular part of their business or for profit. Lower tier registration applies to organisations that transport only their own waste, or that transport waste that is not controlled waste. Most waste carriers used on construction sites will be upper tier registered.

Verify before any waste leaves site

Do not use a waste carrier just because they are cheap — verify EA registration before any waste leaves site. A carrier who offers significantly lower prices than established operators may not be properly registered or may not be taking waste to a licensed facility. The short-term saving is not worth the liability if the waste ends up being fly-tipped and the duty of care obligation falls back on the project.

2. What to Record

The following table sets out the information that should be recorded for every waste carrier used on the project. This record forms part of the project's duty of care evidence and should be retained for the duration of the project and for a minimum of two years thereafter.

Field	Detail
Carrier company name	Full registered company name of the waste carrier.
Contact details	Address, telephone number, and email address for the waste carrier. Include the name of the account manager or primary contact.
EA registration number	The unique registration number issued by the Environment Agency. This is the number used to verify the carrier on the EA public register.
Registration expiry date	The date on which the upper tier registration expires. Lower tier registrations do not expire but should still be recorded. Set a reminder to re-verify before expiry.
Waste types authorised	The types of waste that the carrier is authorised to transport. Ensure that the registration covers the specific waste streams being transferred from the project (e.g. construction & demolition waste, hazardous waste).
Verification method	Record how the registration was verified — typically an online search of the EA public register. Include a screenshot or printout of the search result as evidence.
First used on project	The date on which the carrier was first used to collect waste from the project. This establishes the timeline for duty of care compliance.
WTN reference	Cross-reference to the first Waste Transfer Note issued to this carrier on the project. All subsequent WTN references should be traceable to this carrier record.
Notes	Any additional notes, including re-verification dates, changes to registration status, or issues identified during the project.

3. Common Mistakes

Not verifying registration before first use

The most common and most serious mistake is allowing waste to leave site in the hands of a carrier whose registration has not been checked. The duty of care requires the producer to take all reasonable steps to ensure that waste is transferred to an authorised person. Handing waste to an unverified carrier is a failure of that duty. The EA register check takes two minutes and should be completed before the carrier makes their first collection.

Not rechecking registration on renewal

Upper tier waste carrier registrations are valid for three years. If a carrier's registration expires during the project and is not renewed, every subsequent waste transfer is made to an unregistered carrier. The project should maintain a register of carrier registration expiry dates and re-verify before the expiry date. A carrier whose registration has lapsed must not be used until renewal is confirmed.

Wrong waste categories on registration

Not all waste carrier registrations cover all waste types. A carrier registered to transport non-hazardous construction waste may not be authorised to transport hazardous waste. Before transferring any waste, confirm that the carrier's registration covers the specific waste types being collected. Transferring hazardous waste to a carrier not authorised to handle it is a separate offence.

Not recording the verification

Checking the EA register but not recording the result provides no evidence of compliance. The verification must be documented — date of check, registration number, expiry date, and a screenshot or printout of the register search result. Without this record, the project cannot demonstrate that the duty of care was met if challenged by the Environment Agency.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the EA public register?▾

The Environment Agency public register of waste carriers, brokers, and dealers is available online at environment-agency.gov.uk/search-register. You can search by company name, registration number, or postcode. The register shows the carrier's registration type (upper tier or lower tier), the registration number, the expiry date, and the waste types covered. The search is free and the results are returned immediately. It is good practice to save a screenshot or PDF of the search result as evidence of verification.

What are the penalties for using an unregistered waste carrier?▾

Using an unregistered waste carrier is an offence under the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991. The carrier commits an offence by transporting waste without registration, and the producer commits an offence under the duty of care provisions of EPA 1990 by failing to ensure waste was transferred to an authorised person. Penalties include unlimited fines on conviction. In addition, if the waste is subsequently fly-tipped, the producer can be held liable for clean-up costs and face further prosecution. Fixed penalty notices of up to GBP 400 can also be issued for duty of care breaches.

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