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What are Waste Transfer Notes?

Legal duties for businesses
Compliance. Under the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, it is a legal requirement for businesses to control their waste. This applies to those that produce, import or export, carry or transport, keep or store, treat, or dispose of waste.

What are Waste Transfer Notes?
A waste transfer note (WTN) is a document that details the transfer of waste from one person to another. You must ensure every load of waste you receive or pass to others is covered by a WTN.
WTNs ensure that there is a clear audit trail from when the waste is produced until it is disposed of. You must keep copies of all your WTNs for at least two years and must be able to produce them on demand to your environmental regulator or local council, or you could be fined.
You must check that anyone you pass your waste to holds the relevant registration, permit or exemption for the type of waste you pass to them.
There is no standard WTN and many waste carriers produce their own versions

What a Waste Transfer Note should contain
A WTN must be completed and signed by both the person handing over the waste and the person receiving it. It must contain enough information about the waste for it to be handled safely and either recovered or disposed of legally. If you do not give enough information and your waste is mismanaged as a result, you could be prosecuted.

The WTN must include:

  • A description of the waste
  • Any processes the waste has been through
  • How the waste is contained or packaged
  • The quantity of the waste
  • The place and date of transfer
  • The name and address of both parties
  • Details of the permit, licence or exemption of the person receiving the waste
  • The licence or registration number of the person handing over the waste, if they have a waste management licence or are a registered carrier of controlled waste
  • The appropriate European Waste Catalogue (EWC) code for your waste
  • The Standard Industry Code (SIC) of your business

Find your waste codes
You can find the SIC code that applies to your business on the Companies House website.

How can I get help or advice?
If you need help or guidance in the development and implementation of a Health and Safety System please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01792 293736 or contact us via email on enquiries@greenhat-consulting.co.uk.