Householders: disposing of your household waste

As a householder, you have a waste duty of care. This means that you must only transfer your waste to someone authorised to accept it - 'authorised' means they are a registered waste carrier.

If you do not do this you are committing an offence. This could mean a fixed penalty notice - or prosecution if what you do is deliberate or repeated. 

Your waste is not just usual weekly refuse, but includes furniture, electrical items, building waste and green waste.

Arranging for someone to take away your waste

If a charity, voluntary organisation or local authority collects your waste, they can do this with a lower tier waste carrier registration. 

If you use a private business such as skip hire or house clearance to take away your waste, check that they are a registered upper tier waste carrier.

Finding waste removers on social media

If a waste remover’s website or ad does not include their waste carrier's reference, or has limited contact information, be wary of using them.  

To make their illegal behaviour less traceable, fly-tippers often remove waste for cash-in-hand payment. Be cautious if you find someone on social media who offers to remove your household waste for cash-in-hand only, or for a very low price.

You should:  

• pay a waste carrier by card, when possible, so the payment is traceable
• always ask for a receipt for your payment 
• ask where they will be taking your waste

You can help tackle waste crime by reporting any suspicious or unlicensed waste collectors.

Waste from work on your property

If a tradesperson carries out work on your property, they are the waste producer and are responsible for the waste they produce, including its transport and disposal.

If, for example, an electrician replaces an old fuse box or light fittings, they must properly dispose of the waste. The cost of its disposal should be included in their charge for the work.

If a tradesperson takes away waste that you produced - for example if you add your own waste to their skip - you'll be responsible for ensuring that waste is transferred to a registered waste carrier.

Taking your own household waste for disposal

Before you take your own waste to a local authority's household waste and recycling centre, ask them if they can accept that type of waste.

If you want to take your waste to a site run by a private business, check if they appear on our public register of permitted waste sites.

Asbestos waste

Local authorities will sometimes accept asbestos waste. Contact your local authority about asbestos disposal. If not, you will need to arrange a collection yourself by a private waste management business.

Keeping records

You are not legally required to keep evidence that you checked if a waste carrier or a site is registered. If your waste is fly-tipped by the person collecting it, records you keep can show that you met your duty of care. These records will also help the authorities to identify those responsible.

We advise you to keep:

• a record of any checks you make, including the waste operator’s registration, permit or exemption number
  
  
• a receipt for the transaction which includes the business details of a registered waste operator
  
  
• details of the business or of any vehicle used (registration, make, model, colour) which can be linked back to an authorised waste operator

As a householder, you do not need to complete, or keep a copy of, waste transfer notes.

Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice

Read more about meeting the requirements in the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice.