Do I need to check a waste carrier's licence?

Yes. Householders have a legal duty of care to take all reasonable measures to make sure they only give their waste to someone authorised to take it. Checking the carrier is on the register is a simple way to do that. See the Waste duty of care code of practice.

What can I be fined if my waste is fly-tipped by an unlicensed carrier?

Councils in England can issue a household waste duty of care fixed penalty notice. Government guidance sets the full penalty between £150 and £600, with a default of £200 (gov.uk guidance). Councils can also choose to prosecute instead.

What does a waste carrier registration number look like?

Registrations in England start with CBDU (upper tier) or CBDL (lower tier), followed by digits, for example CBDU123456.

What is the difference between upper and lower tier?

Lower tier is for businesses that only carry their own waste (with some exceptions) or certain low-risk wastes. Upper tier is for businesses that carry other people's waste, such as skip hire, rubbish removal and house clearance firms. Upper tier registrations must be renewed every three years. Read more.

Does this site cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Not yet. Results come from the Environment Agency register for England. Wales (Natural Resources Wales), Scotland (SEPA) and Northern Ireland (NIEA) keep separate registers.

Is this the official register?

No. Check My Waste Carrier is an independent site that shows data from the Environment Agency's public register in a simpler way. Always confirm a result on the official register.

What should I do if I find my waste fly-tipped?

Report it to your local council (gov.uk: report fly-tipping) and keep any receipts, messages and the carrier's details. See our step-by-step guide.