Waste carrier, broker and dealer registration (and the move to permits)

Upper tier or lower tier?

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 split registrants into two tiers. Lower tier ("specified persons") covers:

• businesses that carry only waste they produced themselves, unless it is construction or demolition waste;
• charities and voluntary organisations;
• waste collection, disposal and regulation authorities;
• those who deal only with animal by-products, or waste from mines, quarries or agricultural premises.

Everyone else, including anyone carrying construction or demolition waste and anyone carrying other people's waste, needs an upper tier registration. Brokers and dealers are always upper tier.

Registration in England is in the business's name; the number (CBDU for upper, CBDL for lower) must be given on every waste transfer note and produced on request.

Fees and renewals by nation

You must tell the regulator about changes (new name, address, vehicles or business type) within 28 days in England and Wales.

England: registration becomes a permit from July 2027

The Environmental Permitting (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/873), made on 22 July 2026, move carriers, brokers and dealers in England from registration into the environmental permitting regime. The key points:

• Transitional provisions applied from 12 August 2026; the main regime starts on 22 July 2027.
• Registration is replaced by a permit for "transporting" waste, "controlling" waste (the broker and dealer activities) or both, or by a registered exemption for low-risk cases.
• Applicants must pass identity and criminal-record checks and show technical competence; the detail of competence assessment and the permit fees has not yet been published.
• Permit numbers must be displayed on vehicles and in advertising.
• Existing upper-tier registrants will need a permit when their current registration expires; lower-tier registrants have until around July 2028.
• Defra's March 2026 waste crime action plan says operating without the new permit can carry up to 5 years' imprisonment.

Wales is keeping its registration system. If you operate in both countries you will need an English permit and a Welsh registration.

Tip: if your English upper-tier registration is due for renewal before July 2027, renew it as normal; the Environment Agency will tell you when and how to apply for a permit as the regime beds in.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, waste carrier and broker registration moved into the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR) on 1 November 2025. Existing registrations converted automatically into EASR registrations, and new standard conditions have applied since 1 April 2026. A "transporting waste" registration costs £304.10 and is renewed every three years for £198.55. SEPA's public register lists authorised carriers.

In Northern Ireland, NIEA registers carriers and brokers under the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999. Upper-tier registration costs £180 and renewal £90; the maximum fine for carrying waste without registration is £5,000.

How to register, step by step

1. Decide which tier you need

   Carrying only your own non-construction waste, or being a charity, means lower tier. Construction waste, other people's waste, brokering or dealing means upper tier.

2. Gather the details

   Business name and address, company number if you have one, the names of partners or directors, and (for upper tier) details of any relevant environmental convictions.

3. Apply online with the right regulator

   GOV.UK for England, your NRW account for Wales, SEPA's EASR application for Scotland or DAERA for Northern Ireland. Pay the fee by card; lower tier is free.

4. Record your registration number

   Put it on your transfer notes, invoices and website. From July 2027, English permit numbers must appear on vehicles.

5. Diary the renewal

   Upper-tier registrations last three years. Report changes within 28 days.

Checking that a carrier is registered

Before you let anyone take your waste, search the public register, confirm the name and registration number match the business in front of you, and keep a note of the check. Rogue operators often quote a genuine number belonging to someone else, so match the trading name and address, not just the number. The registers are free and need no login.

How it differs across the UK

E England

Registration continues until 22 July 2027, when carriers, brokers and dealers move to environmental permits with identity, criminal-record and competence checks. Fees are £191.02 (new) and £130.25 (renewal); lower tier is free.

W Wales

Keeps the two-tier registration system under the 2011 Regulations, administered by Natural Resources Wales: £184 new, £126 renewal, lower tier free.

S Scotland

Since 1 November 2025 carriers and brokers are authorised under EASR as a registration (£304.10 new, £198.55 renewal every 3 years) with standard conditions that have applied since 1 April 2026.

NI Northern Ireland

NIEA registration under the 1999 Regulations: upper tier £180 new and £90 renewal, lower tier free. Maximum fine £5,000 for unregistered carrying.

Key dates

• 12 Aug 2026

  Transitional provisions begin for England's waste carrier, broker and dealer permitting reform

  Carriers, brokers and dealers in England E

• 22 Jul 2027

  England's waste permitting regime for carriers, brokers and dealers starts (permits replace registration)

  Carriers, brokers and dealers in England E

• Jul 2028

  Lower-tier carrier registrants in England must hold a permit or registered exemption

  Lower-tier (own-waste) carriers in England E

Dates marked “Proposed” are announced or consulted on but not yet law. See the full deadlines calendar.

Fees and charges

Penalties and enforcement

Where to do it: official services

• Register or renew as a waste carrier, broker or dealer (England) Register or apply

  Apply, renew or update an upper- or lower-tier registration online and pay the fee. Environment Agency via GOV.UK E

• Search the register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers (England) Check a register

  Check a carrier's registration before using them. Environment Agency E

• Register as a waste carrier (Wales) Register or apply

  Apply or renew through your NRW online account. Natural Resources Wales W

• Transporting waste: EASR registration (Scotland) Register or apply

  The standard conditions, fees and application route for carriers under EASR. SEPA S

• Registration of carriers and brokers (Northern Ireland) Register or apply

  How to register as a carrier or broker with NIEA and the fees that apply. NIEA (DAERA) NI

The law behind this

• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, regulation 24 (specified persons) EW
• Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 EWS
• Environmental Permitting (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/873) E
• Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 S
• Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 NI

Terms used in this guide

Waste carrier

A business that transports controlled waste, including its own, in the course of business.

Waste broker

A business that arranges the transport, recovery or disposal of waste on behalf of others without handling it.

Waste dealer

A business that buys waste and sells it on, whether or not it takes physical possession.

Upper tier

The registration tier for anyone carrying construction or demolition waste, other people's waste, or acting as a broker or dealer; it carries a fee and three-yearly renewal.

Lower tier

The free registration tier for businesses carrying only their own non-construction waste, charities and waste authorities.

Full glossary