Check a Waste Carrier Licence

No Cowboys Here. Confirm licence details before waste leaves your home or business, spot proper registrations and avoid risky operators.

Search the public register

Enter a licence number or company name to check Environment Agency records.

Ready to check

Results come from the Environment Agency public register for England.

What do Upper and Lower Tier mean?

Waste carrier registrations are split into two tiers. For most household clearance, rubbish removal, builders waste and commercial waste jobs, customers should expect the carrier to hold an active Upper Tier registration.

Upper Tier

Usually applies to businesses that carry other people's waste, carry construction or demolition waste, or arrange, buy or sell waste as a broker or dealer.

Lower Tier

More limited. It can apply to organisations carrying their own waste, certain agricultural, mining or animal by-product waste, charities, voluntary organisations or public bodies.

Bintra only lists companies as verified carriers when they have an active Upper Tier registration. Lower Tier results may still appear in this checker so customers can understand what is on the public register.

Waste crime can come back to the homeowner

If your rubbish is dumped illegally, councils may ask what checks you made before handing it over. A quick licence check gives you a stronger paper trail before collection.

Before you hire a waste carrier

Use these checks alongside the public register result.

Check the registration

Ask for the waste carrier registration number and check it against the public register before any waste is collected.

  • Make sure the number matches the business you are using.
  • Check the registration is active.
  • For most paid waste removal jobs, look for Upper Tier registration.

Ask where waste goes

A legitimate carrier should be able to explain where your waste is being taken and how it will be handled.

  • Ask for a transfer note or receipt.
  • Avoid vague answers about disposal sites.
  • Keep written proof after collection.

Understand your duty of care

Householders still have responsibility to take reasonable steps before handing waste to someone else.

  • Use a registered carrier.
  • Keep the carrier's details.
  • Be cautious of unusually cheap cash-only offers.

Red flags when hiring a waste carrier

They refuse to provide a waste carrier registration number.
They only accept cash and give no receipt.
They advertise very cheap waste removal on social media.
They use an unmarked vehicle with no business details.
They will not say where the waste is going.
They cannot provide written proof after collection.

Learn more about waste carrier licences

Helpful Bintra guides for licence checks, duty of care and avoiding fly-tipping.

What a Waste Carrier Licence MeansUnderstand why licence checks matter before arranging rubbish removal.Householder Duty of CareSimple steps to reduce the risk of your waste being fly-tipped.Fly-Tipping Warning SignsPractical red flags to watch for when choosing a waste carrier.

Official resources

Bintra makes checks easier, but these official pages are worth keeping handy if you want to confirm the rules yourself.
Environment Agency waste carrier registerCheck whether a business is registered as a waste carrier, broker or dealer.Register or renew as a waste carrierOfficial GOV.UK guidance for businesses that carry, broker or deal in waste.Household waste duty of care guidanceGuidance on the checks householders may be expected to make before handing over waste.Search verified waste carriersFind licensed carriers by town, postcode and service type.