A Waste Carrier Licence is a permit required by UK law for any business that transports, deals in or disposes of commercial waste. The licence is issued on behalf of the Environment Agency (in England and Wales), and it proves that the carrier has met the government standard for waste transport and handling.
There are lower-tier and upper-tier licences, depending on the type of waste that will be transported. Lower-tier registration covers waste produced by a business (excluding waste from mines, quarries, agricultural and animal by-products, which require an upper-tier licence). The lower-tier licence also covers charities and voluntary organisations.
Upper-tier registration is necessary for construction and demolition waste, as well as businesses that transport or process waste on behalf of other companies.
Who needs a Waste Carrier Licence?
Businesses are liable for fines of up to £5000 if they are not properly registered, so it is important to register for the correct licence tier. A tier 2 licence is needed for any business that:
- Transports waste (a carrier)
- Buys, sells or disposes of waste ( a dealer)
- Arranges for someone else to buy, sell or dispose of waste (a broker)
The information needed includes the names and details of the business owners, details of any existing environmental offences committed by those individuals, as well as information about the type of waste that you wish to transport. The process is straightforward and can be done directly through the GOV.UK website.
How do you know if your transport provider has a Waste Carrier Licence?
The simplest way to check whether your waste carrier has the correct licence is to ask them for their registration number. You can also check the Environment Agency’s public registry of waste carriers.
Invo Fulfilment is a registered Waste Carrier
Invo Fulfilment is registered as an upper-tier waste carrier. This means that we are certified to carry waste goods, including contaminated empty containers. This is a useful addition to our ADR and BRC capabilities, and means that whatever palletised goods you need to transport, we will have a fulfilment solution that works for you.
- What is a Waste Carrier Licence, and do you need one? - October 1, 2025
- Invo Fulfilment is awarded BRC’s highest rating for the third year in a row - September 22, 2025
- Hazardous Goods Transport - September 10, 2025