Why Do Waste Removal Companies Need A Licence?

Waste removal is an important job that often requires professionals to handle this task safely and properly. However, not everyone and every company can claim to be expert unless they possess certain skills. Professionals who possess waste removal skills are given certificates by authoritative bodies so that customers can differentiate them from fake ones. So what is this licence and why is it important for both waste removal businesses and homeowners alike? Let’s shed light on these important questions and some other related ideas.

What is a Waste Carriers Licence?

A waste carriers licence is an authorised document required by all removal businesses in the UK. It is issued by the relevant authorities such as Environment Agency to ensure safe waste disposal and prevent illegal fly-tipping and dumping.

Not just waste collectors, companies that undertake any waste management process as part of their business requirements need to be licenced by these authorities. These include individuals and businesses such as plumbers, glaziers, gardeners, electricians, carpenters, etc.

Why Need a Waste Carriers Licence?

The simple answer is that your waste is your responsibility whether you own a home or business. You need to check where your dump ends up and for this reason, you need to contact only registered removal companies. You can find such companies by checking out their waste carriers licence.

If your waste carrier is working illicitly then your waste would be illegally dumped or disposed of at an unauthorised site. You can face heavy fines in case that waste is traced back to you or your business. Thus, it is essential to look for the company’s waste removal licence before hiring one for the job.

Other Reasons to Apply For Licence

If your company produces excessive hazardous waste, then you need to:

Register as a hazardous waste producer.
Categorise your waste before it’s taken for dumping.
Separate the harmful waste and store it safely.

Fill out the parts of the shipment note that apply to you. Keep one copy and give two to the mover hoarding your waste. You need to keep the shipment notes, consignee returns and other related papers for 3 years at the locations that generated or deposited the waste.

Types of Waste Carriers Licence

The Environment Agency issues two kinds of waste carriers licence:

Lower Tier Waste Carriers Licence: This licence allows companies to remove their own waste only unless it is demolition or production waste. This licence can be registered free of cost and don’t need renewal as well.
Upper Tier Waste Carriers Licence: This licence allows companies to not only transfer their own waste, but also of their customers. This licence requires renewal as it remains valid only for three years.

How to Apply for a Waste Carriers Licence?

You need to provide the following details to apply for a waste carriers licence:

Your company name and address.
Information about the waste you transfer.
The registration numbers of vehicles you use for waste removal.
Information about other employees transporting waste on behalf of your company.

How Long It Takes to Receive Permit?

Normally, it takes 2-3 weeks to receive a permit. However, several factors can affect your application so it is suggested to expect delays due to unanticipated hitches. Before initiating the application process, you also need to fill in the risk assessment form.

Furthermore, you would need to show your capability for instance, displaying technical credentials that the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board provide against standard training courses.

Checking for a Waste Carrier’s Licence

If you’re hiring a reliable waste management company then it will be easier to check their licence as such companies don’t hesitate in providing one. However, if there are some doubts, then online research is the best possible answer.

Just type the company’s name on Google and look for the license proof on its homepage. Additionally, you can call the Environment agency at 0330 660 0832 and request for the validation check on the removal company.

How to Spot a Fake Waste Carriers Licence?

Remember we talked about looking for the company’s licence proof on it homepage? Well the answer is simple. The Environment Agency provides widgets to registered companies which they can showcase on their websites to ensure customer satisfaction. Although these widgets display updated details pulled directly from the Environment Agency, they can be faked as well. Here’s how to spot them:

Real: Move your cursor to the Company Number’ and ‘Registration Number’ that’s in blue. If it’s a valid license, then these would be hyperlinks that you can click to reach the Environment Agency’s website. There you can verify information about waste carriers.
Fake: The ‘Company Number’ and ‘Registration Number’ in blue are not hyperlinks on a fake widget and will not take you to the Environment Agency’s website.

How to Detect Non-Licenced Waste Carriers?

Ask Questions about where the waste is dumped and what the process is. Certified waste carriers will show you waste removal note including all the details, disposal site details, and waste management licence.
Don’t instantly trust companies offering surprisingly low prices, as registered waste removal companies ask for market-competitive rates.
Decline unsolicited waste removal offers made by calling you or knocking on your door as this is a sure sign of an non-licenced waste carrier.
Acquire waste carriers’ details to help investigators track them down if the illegal waste disposal is traced back to you.

Conclusion

Hope this detailed guide helps answering all your important questions regarding the importance of licence requirements for waste removal companies. If you want to have your waste collected and disposed of then contact our reliable and registered company – Waste Collectors. With 20+ years of experience, we provide professional waste collection and disposal services at competitive prices, following eco-friendly practices. Call us today at 0207 050 8888 to acquire same-day service or email at info@waste-collectors.com to acquire details from our supportive staff.