How to check a waste carrier
How Solihull householders can check a waste carrier on the Environment Agency public register before anyone takes waste from their home.
If a private company is taking waste from your house, you should check they are registered. In England the register is kept by the Environment Agency. The check takes a few minutes and is one of the reasonable steps householders are expected to take.
The legal wording is in the waste duty of care code of practice. This page is a practical walkthrough, not a substitute for that document.
Why it matters
Waste that is handed to an unauthorised person can be fly-tipped. The Environment Agency has publicly encouraged householders to check the register, ask where the waste is going, and keep a record.
How to check
- Ask the company for their waste carrier name and registration number.
- Open the Waste Carriers, Brokers and Dealers register.
- Search by registration number, business name or postcode.
- Confirm the registration is current and matches the business you are dealing with.
- Keep a copy of your quote or receipt.
If they cannot give a number, do not let them load the van.
Upper tier and house clearance
The code of practice explains that businesses which take other people’s waste — the example given includes house clearance — should have an up-to-date upper-tier registration. Lower-tier registrations exist for a narrower set of cases. If you are unsure, look the business up and read what the register says.
Other sensible questions
- Where is this load going?
- Can I have the site name?
- Will you give me a receipt?
You do not need to become a waste lawyer. You do need to be able to show you chose a registered carrier.
If we have published a registration number, it will appear on the waste carrier licence page. If that field is empty, the owner has not yet supplied it — do not assume a number that is not printed.
Common questions
What does a registration number look like?
In England, upper-tier registrations commonly start with CBDU followed by numbers. Always check the live register rather than trusting a number on a van.
Is the council bulky service a waste carrier I need to check?
Using the local authority’s own bulky collection is a different route. The duty-of-care guidance is aimed at householders who use a private collector.