Household waste duty of care (England)
A free course of about 15 minutes. Read short lessons, pass the quiz and get a Waste World certificate with an ID that anyone can check.
Please note: these are Waste World certificates. They are not regulated or accredited qualifications, and they do not replace any training or competence you need by law for your job.
1. What the duty is
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, anyone who produces waste has a “duty of care”. That means taking reasonable steps to make sure it is dealt with legally. At home, that mostly means handing your waste only to someone who is allowed to take it: your council, a household waste recycling centre or a registered waste carrier. Businesses have extra duties, such as keeping written transfer records for at least two years.
2. Who must be registered
In England, a business that carries other people’s waste, or arranges for it to be carried, must be registered with the Environment Agency. That includes man and van firms, skip companies and clearance services. If you hand your waste to someone who is not registered and it is dumped, the council can hold you responsible too.
3. How to check a carrier
- Ask for their registration number and business name. A genuine carrier gives it straight away.
- Search the Environment Agency’s public register.
- Check that the name on the register matches the business, and that the registration is current.
- Note the vehicle registration and company name before they load.
Warning signs: no number, or one that does not match; cash only and no paperwork; an advert with only a mobile number; a price far below everyone else’s; “I’ll sort it at the tip” with no details.
4. Paperwork, and what can go wrong
Householders are not normally required to fill in a waste transfer note, but a registered carrier will usually give you a receipt or note, and it is wise to ask. It is your proof. Keep the carrier’s name and registration number, the date and a description of the waste, for at least two years if you can.
In England, failing to take reasonable steps can lead to a fixed penalty notice of up to £600 or prosecution. If your waste is traced back to you, that alone does not prove you broke the duty. The authority should consider the evidence of the checks you made.
This course covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own registers and regulators. See our full guides: household duty of care, checking a waste carrier and waste transfer notes, which link to the official GOV.UK sources.
Take the quiz
10 questions. You need 8 to pass. You can try again as many times as you like (a few attempts an hour).