Waste Carriers Licence Check

Before you let anyone take your waste, check they’re registered with the Environment Agency. If they’re not, you could be fined — even if you didn’t know.

Check a waste carrier’s registration
Search the Environment Agency register — free, no account needed.
Upper tier numbers start with CBDU · Lower tier start with CBDL
Data from the EA public register · Updated by the Environment Agency · Free to use

Data sourced from the EA public register · Results are cached for up to 24 hours

Why checking matters — your legal duty of care

Under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, anyone who produces controlled waste has a legal Duty of Care to ensure it is passed to a registered waste carrier. This duty does not end when the waste leaves your property.

If you hire an unregistered person to remove your waste and they fly-tip it, you can face a fixed penalty notice or prosecution — even though you didn’t tip it yourself. Local authorities and the Environment Agency actively pursue householders and businesses who fail their duty of care when investigating fly-tips.

The way to demonstrate you met your duty of care is simple: check the carrier’s registration before you hand over any waste, and keep the Waste Transfer Note they are legally required to give you.

This is not a technicality buried in small print. It is the same law that applies to businesses disposing of commercial waste — and enforcement is increasing. Fly-tipping costs local authorities in England over £50 million a year to clear up; regulators are under pressure to recover costs from those who funded the tipping.

How to check a waste carrier’s licence

The whole process takes under two minutes. Do it before you confirm any booking.

  1. 1
    Ask for the registration number
    Before booking, ask the carrier for their Environment Agency registration number and expiry date. A legitimate carrier will provide it without hesitation. If they can't or won't, do not proceed.
  2. 2
    Search the EA public register
    Go to the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Search by the carrier's business name or registration number. The result will show their registration status, tier, and expiry date.
  3. 3
    Confirm the tier matches the work
    If you're hiring someone to remove your waste, they must hold upper tier registration (not lower tier). Lower tier only covers carriers transporting their own waste. A clearance firm or removal company must be upper tier.
  4. 4
    Get a Waste Transfer Note
    Once the carrier collects your waste, they must issue a Waste Transfer Note. This is your legal proof that the waste was handed to a registered carrier. Keep it for at least two years.

Waste carrier licence search is available on the EA public register. You do not need an account.

Upper tier vs lower tier — what’s the difference?

The EA register has two tiers of registration, and the distinction matters when you’re hiring someone to remove your waste.

Lower tier

For businesses that carry only their own waste, or specific exempt categories. A builder taking their own skip rubble to a licensed facility is a lower tier example. Lower tier carriers cannot legally carry other people’s waste as a commercial service.

Upper tier ✓ required

Required for anyone who carries other people’s waste as a commercial service — rubbish removal firms, house clearance companies, grab-hire operators. If you’re paying someone to collect your waste, check they hold upper tier registration.

Construction and house clearance carriers should always be upper tier. Official EA guidance on carrier registration →

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a waste carrier's licence?+
Ask the carrier for their Environment Agency registration number and expiry date. Then search the EA's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers using the name or registration number. Confirm the result shows 'active' status and that the tier (upper or lower) is appropriate for the work.
What's the difference between upper and lower tier waste carriers?+
Lower tier registration covers businesses that carry only their own waste, or specific exempt categories (such as a builder taking their own rubble to a tip). Upper tier registration is required for anyone who carries other people's waste as a commercial service — including rubbish removal firms, house clearance companies, and grab-hire operators. If you're hiring someone to collect your waste, they must hold upper tier registration.
Can I be fined if my waste is fly-tipped by someone else?+
Yes. Under the Duty of Care in Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, you are legally responsible for ensuring your waste is passed to a registered carrier. If you hand waste to an unregistered person and it is fly-tipped, you can face a fixed penalty notice or prosecution — even though you didn't tip it yourself. This is why checking registration before you hand over waste matters.
What is a waste carrier registration number?+
It is the unique identifier issued by the Environment Agency (or Natural Resources Wales) when a business registers to carry waste. Upper tier numbers typically start with 'CBDU'. Carriers are required to provide their registration number on request — if a carrier cannot or refuses to provide it, treat that as a red flag.
Do waste carriers have to show their registration number?+
Registered carriers must provide their registration number when asked. Under the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991, it is an offence to transport controlled waste without being registered. A legitimate carrier will have the number to hand.
Are waste carriers now called waste transporters?+
The Environment Agency is in the process of migrating from the term 'waste carrier' to 'waste transporter' as part of a system update expected to complete around October 2026. During this transition period, both terms refer to the same registration. The legal requirements have not changed — only the terminology. Search the EA register using either term.
What is a Waste Transfer Note?+
A Waste Transfer Note (WTN) is a legal document required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 whenever controlled waste changes hands. It records what the waste is, where it came from, and who is taking it. A registered carrier is legally required to issue one for every collection. Keep your copy for at least two years.
Is the 'waste carriers license check' the same as a 'licence check'?+
Yes — 'licence' (UK spelling) and 'license' (US spelling) refer to the same Environment Agency registration. The official UK term is 'waste carriers licence'. Whichever spelling you search for, the EA public register is the authoritative source.
Want to skip the checking?
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Responsible Disposal Construction Waste Removal London Rubbish Removal Fly-Tipping Information

Registration data is published by the Environment Agency public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RubbishBids is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Environment Agency. Last updated: 25 June 2026.