Waste and resources EWSNI
Hazardous waste: classification, consignment notes and returns
Hazardous waste (called special waste in Scotland) includes oils, solvents, paints, batteries, fluorescent tubes, asbestos, many chemicals and contaminated containers. Every movement needs a consignment note with the right codes, producers must keep the notes for three years, and the receiving site files quarterly returns. Wales still requires producers of more than 500kg a year to register their premises, and Northern Ireland requires 72 hours' pre-notification of each movement.
At a glance
- Who must comply
- Any business that produces, holds, carries or receives hazardous waste, from a garage with waste oil to a chemical plant.
- Thresholds
- None for consignment notes. Wales: premises producing or holding more than 500kg in 12 months must register. Scotland and Northern Ireland: no producer registration.
- Next key date
- 31 October 2026: consignee returns for July to September 2026 due to the Environment Agency; returns continue quarterly.
- Regulator
- Environment Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales, SEPA (Scotland, special waste), NIEA (Northern Ireland).
- Maximum penalty
- Unlimited fine on conviction for breaches of the Hazardous Waste Regulations; fixed penalties of £300 for failing to produce records; civil sanctions available.
- Where to do it
- Consignment notes are completed by the producer and carrier; consignee returns and Welsh premises registration are filed online with the regulator.
This probably applies to you if
- You produce waste with an asterisk (*) against its code in the List of Waste, such as waste oil, solvents, paint, adhesives, pesticides, lab chemicals or lead-acid batteries
- You remove asbestos, contaminated soil, or fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing lamps
- You run a garage, workshop, print shop, laboratory, hospital, dental practice or manufacturing site
- You collect, treat or dispose of hazardous waste for others
- You hold waste electricals, oily rags, aerosols or empty chemical containers awaiting collection
Is my waste hazardous?
Waste is hazardous if it has one or more hazardous properties (HP1 to HP15), such as being flammable, toxic, corrosive, ecotoxic or irritant. The starting point is the six-digit List of Waste (EWC) code:
- an entry marked with an asterisk is absolute hazardous (for example 13 02 05* mineral engine oils);
- some wastes have mirror entries, one hazardous and one not, and you must assess which applies (for example contaminated soil, 17 05 03* or 17 05 04);
- the technical guidance WM3 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland; SEPA has its own version) explains how to classify mirror entries using the concentrations of hazardous substances.
Common hazardous wastes in ordinary businesses include waste oil, fuel, solvents, paints and inks, adhesives, aerosols, lead-acid and lithium batteries, fluorescent tubes, oily rags and filters, empty chemical containers, laboratory chemicals, asbestos, refrigerants and electrical equipment containing hazardous components.
Watch out: you must not mix hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste, or different categories of hazardous waste with each other, unless the site receiving it has a permit allowing it. Mixing to dilute a waste below a threshold is an offence.
Consignment notes
Every movement of hazardous waste from your premises needs a consignment note, which travels with the waste. In England and Wales the note has parts A to E:
| Part | Completed by | Content |
|---|---|---|
| A | Producer or holder | Consignment note code, producer's and consignee's addresses, SIC 2007 code |
| B | Producer or holder | Description, EWC codes, quantity, hazard codes and physical form of each waste |
| C | Carrier | Carrier's details and registration number |
| D | Producer or holder | Declaration that the waste hierarchy has been applied and the information is correct |
| E | Consignee (receiving site) | Confirmation of receipt, or rejection, with the permit number |
The consignment note code is your premises code (or "exempt" prefix) followed by a unique five-character reference. Producers keep a register of consignment notes for three years; carriers in England keep theirs for 12 months and brokers and dealers for three years. Multiple-collection consignment notes can cover rounds where one carrier collects small quantities from several producers.
Consignee returns and fees
The site receiving the waste (the consignee) must send a return to the regulator and a copy to the producer every quarter. In England the consignee pays the Environment Agency a fee per consignment, which it normally passes on to the producer:
| Fee | Electronic | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Standard consignment | £10 | £19 |
| Multiple collection consignment | £5 | £10 |
Quarterly return deadlines in England fall one month after each quarter ends; the return for July to September 2026 is due by 31 October 2026. The returns are how the regulator reconciles what left your site with what arrived at the consignee's, so missing or mismatched notes are quickly visible.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Wales still requires premises that produce or hold more than 500kg of hazardous waste in a 12-month period to register with Natural Resources Wales each year. NRW no longer charges for registration (the £18 fee was removed after consultation). Premises below the threshold use an exempt prefix on consignment notes.
Scotland regulates "special waste" under the Special Waste Regulations 1996. There is no producer registration. Each consignment note carries a SEPA code bought in advance: SA (£15) for standard consignments, SB (£10) for lead-acid batteries and SC (free) for certain other cases. Notes are submitted electronically to SEPA, and pre-notification is only needed for movements into or out of Scotland.
Northern Ireland requires the consignor to pre-notify NIEA at least 72 hours (and no more than one month) before a movement. Consignment notes must include a waste hierarchy declaration and records are kept for three years. Fees per consignment are £24, £10 or free depending on the type.
How to consign hazardous waste, step by step
Classify the waste
Find the EWC code, check for an asterisk or mirror entry, and use WM3 to assess mirror entries. Record the hazardous properties.
Store it safely and separately
Labelled, closed containers, bunded if liquid, away from drains and incompatible materials. Do not mix categories.
Register premises if you are in Wales
Above 500kg a year, register with NRW and renew annually; use the premises code on your notes.
Choose an authorised carrier and consignee
Check the carrier's upper-tier registration and that the site's permit allows your specific waste codes.
Complete the consignment note
Parts A, B and D before collection; the carrier completes C; the consignee completes E and returns a copy. In Northern Ireland pre-notify NIEA 72 hours ahead.
Keep a register for three years
File the notes, consignee returns and any rejections where they can be produced on request.
Enforcement
Hazardous waste offences are prosecuted under the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, which carry unlimited fines on conviction. Regulators can also issue fixed penalties for failing to produce records, use civil sanctions including variable monetary penalties for permit holders, and recover costs. Because the consignee returns create an audit trail, the most common findings are producers with no consignment notes for waste that a carrier clearly collected, and mirror-entry wastes wrongly classified as non-hazardous to save disposal cost.
How it differs across the UK
- E England
No producer registration since 1 April 2016. Consignment notes parts A to E with SIC 2007 and EWC codes; consignee fees £10 or £19 per note; quarterly consignee returns; records kept 3 years.
- W Wales
Premises producing or holding more than 500kg of hazardous waste in 12 months must register with NRW and renew annually; registration is now free. Otherwise the 2005 Regulations apply as in England.
- S Scotland
Regulated as special waste under the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and, since 1 November 2025, within EASR for sites and carriers. No producer registration; SEPA consignment codes SA £15, SB £10, SC free; notes submitted electronically; pre-notification only for cross-border movements.
- NI Northern Ireland
Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005: consignor must pre-notify NIEA at least 72 hours before a movement; waste hierarchy declaration on the note; records for 3 years; fees £24, £10 or free.
Key dates
-
Hazardous waste consignee returns for July to September 2026 due
-
Hazardous waste consignee returns for October to December 2026 due
Dates marked “Proposed” are announced or consulted on but not yet law. See the full deadlines calendar.
Fees and charges
| Item | Amount | Applies in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous waste consignment fee, standard (electronic / paper) | £10 / £19 Per consignment, paid by the consignee | E | Source |
| Hazardous waste consignment fee, multiple collection (electronic / paper) | £5 / £10 Per consignment | E | Source |
| Hazardous waste producer premises registration | Free Annual renewal | W | Source |
| Special waste consignment note codes SA / SB / SC | £15 / £10 / free Per consignment | S | Source |
| Hazardous waste consignment fees | £24 / £10 / free Per consignment, by type | NI | Source |
Penalties and enforcement
| Breach | Penalty | Applies in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaching the Hazardous Waste Regulations (for example moving waste without a consignment note, or mixing hazardous waste) | Unlimited fine on conviction on indictment; fine up to the statutory maximum in the magistrates' court | EW | Source |
| Failing to produce duty of care documents, including consignment notes, on request | £300 fixed penalty notice | EW | Source |
Compliance checklist
Where to do it: official services
-
Dispose of hazardous waste: consignment notes and returns (England)
Guidance
How to complete consignment notes, the codes to use and consignee return deadlines and fees. Environment Agency via GOV.UK E
-
Register or renew as a hazardous waste producer (Wales)
Register or apply
Annual registration for premises producing or holding more than 500kg of hazardous waste. Natural Resources Wales W
-
Special waste (Scotland)
Guidance
Buying consignment note codes, submitting notes electronically and the special waste rules. SEPA S
-
Hazardous waste movement notice (Northern Ireland)
Report or submit
Pre-notify NIEA of a hazardous waste movement at least 72 hours in advance. NIEA via GOV.UK NI
-
Technical guidance WM3: waste classification
Guidance
The joint regulators' guidance on classifying waste and assessing hazardous properties. Environment Agency, NRW, SEPA and NIEA EWSNI
The law behind this
Questions people ask
Do I need to register as a hazardous waste producer?
Only in Wales, and only if your premises produce or hold more than 500kg of hazardous waste in any 12-month period. England abolished premises registration on 1 April 2016, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have never required it. Wherever you are, you still need a consignment note for every movement and must keep your notes for three years.
How long do I have to keep hazardous waste consignment notes?
Producers and holders keep their register of consignment notes, and the consignee returns they receive, for three years. In England carriers keep their copies for 12 months and brokers and dealers for three years. The three-year period is longer than the two years for ordinary waste transfer notes, so keep the two sets of records separately.
What is the fee for a hazardous waste consignment note?
In England the consignee pays the Environment Agency £10 for an electronic consignment or £19 for a paper one (£5 or £10 for multiple collections) and usually passes the cost to the producer. Scotland charges £15 for an SA code and £10 for an SB code (lead-acid batteries), with SC codes free. Northern Ireland charges £24, £10 or nothing depending on the consignment type. Wales uses the England fee structure.
Can I mix hazardous waste with my general waste?
No. Mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste, with other categories of hazardous waste or with any other material is prohibited unless it is done at a site whose permit allows it. Putting fluorescent tubes, aerosols or oily rags in the general skip is one of the most common hazardous waste offences found on inspection.
Is waste electrical equipment hazardous waste?
Much of it is. Equipment containing hazardous components, such as fridges (refrigerants and oils), cathode-ray tubes, fluorescent lamps and most batteries, carries a hazardous List of Waste code and needs a consignment note. The WEEE regulations govern who pays for its collection and treatment; the hazardous waste rules govern how it is moved and recorded.
Terms used in this guide
- Consignment note
- The document that must accompany every movement of hazardous (or special) waste, completed in parts by the producer, carrier and receiving site.
- Consignee
- The permitted site that receives hazardous waste and files quarterly returns to the regulator and the producer.
- Mirror entry
- A pair of List of Waste codes, one hazardous and one not, where the producer must assess the waste's composition to decide which applies.
- WM3
- The regulators' technical guidance on waste classification and the assessment of hazardous properties HP1 to HP15.
- Special waste
- The Scottish term for hazardous waste, regulated under the Special Waste Regulations 1996.
Sources
- Dispose of hazardous waste: consignment notes, GOV.UK
- Dispose of hazardous waste: consignee returns, GOV.UK
- Hazardous Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2016
- Register or renew as a hazardous waste producer, Natural Resources Wales
- Special waste, SEPA
- Pre-notification of movements of hazardous/special waste, NetRegs
- Hazardous waste movement notice, Northern Ireland, GOV.UK
- Hazardous waste, DAERA
- Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, regulation 65 (offences)
Reviewed 14 October 2026. If you spot something out of date, email info@thamesenvironment.com.