Guide
Can a man and van take my rubbish away?
In England a householder who hands rubbish to someone who is not a registered waste carrier, without reasonable checks, can be fined up to £600 under a fixed penalty in force since 31 July 2023. A man and van can only take your rubbish legally if it is on the waste carrier register, which takes a minute to check.
Can a man and van legally take household rubbish?
Only if the business is registered as a waste carrier. GOV.UK says a business must register if it transports waste, and that householders must check the company is on the register of waste carriers before handing anything over.
Moving your belongings needs no such registration, so a firm that only moves goods may not hold one. Taking unwanted furniture, garden waste or bags of rubbish to a tip is a different job in law, and the firm needs the registration for it.
What is the householder duty of care?
The householder duty of care is the legal duty to make sure your household waste goes only to someone authorised to take it. It is set out in section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which requires the occupier of a home to take reasonable measures to that end in England and Wales. Scotland has its own version.
It applies even if you never see where the rubbish goes. If a carrier you hired dumps it and it is traced back to you, the question is whether you made reasonable checks before you paid.
What is the fine for not checking a waste carrier?
In England the fixed penalty is £150 to £600, with a default of £200 and an early payment amount of no less than £120, under section 34ZA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended from 31 July 2023. Before that date the maximum was £400. Defra's guidance to councils on these penalties applies to England only.
In Wales the fixed penalty for the same breach is £300, reduced to £150 if paid within 10 days (section 34ZB). Separately, the fixed penalty for fly-tipping itself rose to a maximum of £5,000 in England from 1 September 2026, but the householder penalty stayed at £600.
How do you check a waste carrier registration?
Ask for the firm's registration number and search the public register for the nation where it is registered. In England the Environment Agency's register can be searched by name, number or postcode. In Wales, check Natural Resources Wales; in Scotland, SEPA's register of waste transporters and brokers; and in Northern Ireland, DAERA's upper and lower tier registers.
The Environment Agency says carriers registered in Scotland or Wales may also work in England. Check that the name and address on the register match the firm you are talking to. SEPA advises asking for the number before anything is collected: a registered carrier has one to give.
What should you ask for when the rubbish is collected?
Ask for a receipt that names the business, its waste carrier registration number and what was taken. Defra's guidance lists the evidence a householder can keep: the business and vehicle details, the operator's registration number, a receipt and a photo of the registration certificate.
The same guidance says there is no duty on an individual to keep a waste transfer note. Councils' SCRAP code, as set out by West Sussex County Council, adds asking for proof of registration and noting the vehicle's number plate. Pay by card or bank transfer where possible, so there is a record of who you paid.
Common questions
Do I need to check if a man and van has a waste carrier licence?
Yes, if it is taking your rubbish. GOV.UK says householders must check the company is on the register of waste carriers, and in England you can be fined up to £600 if you do not make reasonable checks.
Where do I check a waste carrier licence?
On the Environment Agency public register in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, SEPA in Scotland and DAERA in Northern Ireland.
What happens if my rubbish is fly-tipped by someone I paid?
If it is traced to you and you did not check the carrier was registered, your council can give you a fixed penalty of £150 to £600 in England, or £300 in Wales.
Do I need a waste transfer note for household rubbish?
No. Defra's guidance says there is no duty on an individual to keep a waste transfer note, but a receipt with the carrier's registration number is good evidence.