Why it matters: your duty of care
In England, householders and businesses have a legal “duty of care” for their waste. If you hand it to someone who is not registered to carry waste and it ends up dumped, the waste can be traced back to you — and councils can fine you, even though you paid someone to take it.
How to check, step by step
- Ask the collector for their waste carrier registration number. In England it usually starts with CBDU (upper tier) or CBDL (lower tier).
- Search GOV.UK for “check if someone is registered to carry waste” and open the official Environment Agency public register.
- Enter the number or business name and check the details match: business name, registration type and that it has not expired.
- Keep a note of the registration number and ask for a receipt that shows what was collected.
Warning signs
- No registration number, or they “don’t have it on them”.
- A price that seems far too low for the amount of waste.
- Cash only, no business name and no receipt.
- An unmarked van and no landline, website or reviews.
Our licence
Waste Removal 1 is an upper tier registered waste carrier, licence number CBDU553283, issued by the Environment Agency. Everything we collect goes to licensed facilities, with reuse and recycling first. You’re welcome to check us on the register before you book.
Read next: how to get rid of an old sofa in London.