Before handing over any waste, check that the company holds a valid registration on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, householders in England and Wales must ensure that any transfer of household waste is made only to an authorised person - and if an unlicensed operator fly-tips your rubbish, you may be held liable.
This matters every time you book a rubbish removal firm, a house clearance company or a garden clearance service. Checking takes less than a minute and is entirely free. Here is what to look for and what to keep.
Why the Law Puts Responsibility on You
Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty of care on occupiers of domestic property to take reasonable measures to ensure their household waste is transferred only to an authorised person. That duty does not end the moment the van pulls away. If the waste ends up illegally dumped, the Environment Agency and local authorities can pursue the householder as well as the carrier.
Haringey Council's guidance states plainly that if a rubbish removal company is not licensed and the waste is fly-tipped, you as the householder are liable for prosecution. The same principle applies whether you are booking a one-off collection, a full house clearance or a garden clearance - if you are paying a private business to take waste away, you need to verify they are authorised to do so.
You can find clearance and disposal firms near you on GetBrent, and the check described below takes only moments before you confirm any booking.
What Upper-Tier Registration Means
The Environment Agency issues two tiers of waste carrier registration. The Environment Agency's public register allows you to check whether a person or business is authorised to take waste before you transfer it to them.
Anyone who transports, buys, sells or disposes of waste as part of their business must register with the Environment Agency, as confirmed in the Environment Agency's own guidance published in October 2025. A company that cannot provide evidence of their registration when asked should not be trusted with your waste.
How to Check the Register: Step by Step
The Environment Agency maintains a free, publicly searchable register of all registered waste carriers, brokers and dealers. You do not need an account to use it.
- Ask the company for their registration number before you book. A legitimate carrier will supply a CBDU reference number without hesitation. If they cannot or will not, do not proceed.
- Go to the Environment Agency's public register at environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/waste-carriers. You can also call the EA National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) if you prefer.
- Search by company name or registration number. Using the CBDU number is the most reliable method if the company has given you one.
- Check the status is active. The register shows whether a registration is current or has been revoked or expired. A revoked registration means the company is no longer authorised, even if it once was.
- Confirm the tier is upper tier. The entry will state the registration type. Only upper-tier registration is appropriate for a commercial rubbish removal or clearance service.
- Check the registered name and address match the company you are dealing with, particularly if there are similarly named businesses in your area.
In Wales, the equivalent register is held by Natural Resources Wales, which can be reached on 0300 065 3000.
What Paperwork to Keep
Haringey Council's guidance recommends noting the carrier's vehicle licence number, asking where your rubbish is going and keeping any receipt or paperwork from the collection.
The GOV.UK Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice advises that when you transfer waste to a business - for example when hiring a skip or booking a clearance firm - you should ask for evidence of their authorisation, such as a copy of their registration details, and keep a record of the checks you made, including the carrier's registration number.
Businesses (as opposed to householders disposing of domestic waste) have an additional obligation: both parties must keep a Waste Transfer Note for at least two years and produce it on demand within seven days to the Environment Agency or a local waste collection authority.
Red Flags and Practical Tips
Use this checklist before confirming any rubbish removal, house clearance or garden clearance booking:
- The company can provide a CBDU registration number immediately when asked.
- The number comes back as active and upper tier on the EA public register.
- The registered name matches the trading name and invoice.
- The company can tell you clearly where your waste will be taken.
- You have a written or emailed quote that lists what is included.
- You have a receipt or record of the collection once completed.
- You have noted the vehicle registration number on the day.
Never accept an unsolicited knock-at-the-door offer to remove waste. The GOV.UK guidance notes that you should check authorisation for any business that approaches you and offers to take your waste away, not only those you have actively sought out. Unlicensed operators - sometimes called "man with a van" rogue traders - frequently fly-tip the waste they collect, leaving the original householder exposed.
If you are comparing multiple firms before booking, bear in mind that the factors which drive cost variation include the volume and type of waste, access to the property, the distance to a permitted disposal facility and whether any items require specialist handling. Confirm the exact figure directly with the company rather than relying on a general estimate.
For collections in specific areas, you can also browse rubbish removal and clearance firms in London or check available services in Wembley and Mitcham to find registered local operators.
Find a Licensed Rubbish Removal Firm on GetBrent
GetBrent is a UK marketplace where you can search for local rubbish removal, house clearance, garden clearance and skip hire companies, compare them and contact them directly. Use the register check above before you confirm any booking, keep a note of the carrier's CBDU number, and retain any paperwork from the collection. Those three steps are all it takes to meet your legal duty of care and protect yourself if something goes wrong.
Now let me compile the full properly formatted output: --- QUESTION: how do I check a rubbish removal company is licensed UK SOURCES: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/34 https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2025/10/01/register-as-a-waste-carrier-broker-or-dealer-at-gov-uk https://www.haringey.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/rubbish-removal-companies TITLE: How to Check a Rubbish Removal Company Is Licensed ANSWER: Before handing over any waste, check the company holds a valid upper-tier registration on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires householders in England and Wales to transfer household waste only to an authorised person. Using an unlicensed operator whose waste is fly-tipped can leave the householder liable to prosecution. META: Learn how to verify a rubbish removal firm on the Environment Agency register, what upper-tier registration means, and what paperwork to keep before any collection takes place. ---Before handing over any waste, check that the company holds a valid registration on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Under Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, householders in England and Wales must take reasonable measures to ensure that household waste is transferred only to an authorised person - and if an unlicensed operator fly-tips your rubbish, you may be held liable alongside them.
This applies every time you book a rubbish removal firm, a house clearance company or a garden clearance service. The check takes less than a minute and is entirely free. Here is what to look for and what to keep.
Why the Law Puts Responsibility on You
Section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty of care on occupiers of domestic property in England and Wales to take reasonable measures to ensure their household waste is transferred only to an authorised person. That responsibility does not end the moment the van drives away. Haringey Council's guidance states plainly that if a rubbish removal company is not licensed and the waste is fly-tipped, the householder is liable for prosecution. The Environment Agency and local authorities actively pursue householders who fail their duty of care when investigating fly-tips.
The same principle applies whether you are booking a one-off collection, a full house clearance or a garden clearance. If you are paying a private business to take waste away, you need to verify they are authorised to do so. You can find clearance and disposal firms near you on GetBrent, and the check below takes only moments before you confirm any booking.
What Upper-Tier Registration Means
The Environment Agency issues two tiers of waste carrier registration. The GOV.UK Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice advises that you should check whether a person or business is authorised to take waste before you transfer it to them. According to Environment Agency guidance published in October 2025, anyone who moves waste as part of their business operations must register with the relevant regulator. A company that cannot supply evidence of their registration when asked should not be trusted with your waste.
How to Check the Register: Step by Step
The Environment Agency maintains a free, publicly searchable register of all registered waste carriers, brokers and dealers. No account is needed.
- Ask the company for their registration number before you book. A legitimate carrier will supply a CBDU reference without hesitation. If they cannot or will not, do not proceed.
- Go to the EA public register at environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/waste-carriers. You can also call the EA National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
- Search by company name or registration number.
- Check the status is active. The register shows whether a registration is current or has been revoked or expired. A revoked registration means the company is no longer authorised, even if it once was.
- Check the registered name and address match the company you are dealing with, particularly where similarly named businesses operate in your area.
In Wales, the equivalent register is held by Natural Resources Wales, which can be reached on 0300 065 3000, as set out in the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice.
What Paperwork to Keep
Haringey Council's guidance recommends asking where your rubbish is going, noting the vehicle licence number and keeping any receipt from the collection. The GOV.UK Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice advises that when you transfer waste to a business - for example when booking a clearance firm or skip hire - you should ask for evidence of their authorisation and keep a record of the checks made, including the carrier's registration number.
