Rules
Waste carrier permits from July 2027: what changes
From 22 July 2027, waste carriers, brokers and dealers in England move from registration to environmental permits, under regulations made on 22 July 2026. Firms must pass identity, criminal record and competence checks and show their permit number on vehicles and advertising.
What is changing for waste carriers in England?
The Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026 replace waste carrier, broker and dealer registration with environmental permits. The regulations were made on 22 July 2026.
GOV.UK describes the change as a move from a simple registration system to a permit-based one, where operators must show they meet the requirements rather than just registering their details.
When do waste carrier permits start?
The main provisions come into force 12 months after the regulations were made, on 22 July 2027. Firms do not all switch on that day.
Under the transitional rules, an existing registration stays valid until the firm is granted a permit or reaches its own deadline. For many carriers the deadline is the day after their current registration expires, and upper tier registrations last 3 years, so CBDU numbers will still be seen for some time after July 2027.
What checks will firms have to pass?
Applicants face identity checks and criminal record checks, aimed at keeping people linked to waste crime out of the trade. They must also show technical competence: the knowledge, skills and experience to transport waste or make decisions about how it is handled.
The Environment Agency gets stronger powers to refuse, suspend and revoke permits and to issue enforcement notices, and GOV.UK says penalties for serious offences rise to up to 5 years in prison.
Where will I see a waste carrier's permit number?
Permit holders must show their permit number prominently, including on vehicles and in advertising and marketing. The regulations also require drivers to carry the permit number for the waste activity concerned.
If a permit is suspended, the firm must remove references to it from its vehicles and advertising as soon as practicable. An advert or van with no permit number after a firm's changeover is a reason to ask questions.
What does it mean for householders and businesses?
Your duty of care does not change. In England a householder who hands waste to someone not authorised to take it, without making reasonable checks, can be given a fixed penalty of up to £600 in England (since 31 July 2023). Businesses still need a waste transfer note for each load.
Until a firm has its permit, check its CBDU registration on the Environment Agency register as now. Once it has a permit, check the permit number it shows on its van or advert against the official record, and keep a receipt or waste transfer note that includes it.
Does the change apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. These regulations apply in England. Wales and Northern Ireland keep their own registers, run by Natural Resources Wales and DAERA, and SEPA in Scotland now authorises waste transporters and brokers under its own system.
The Environment Agency says carriers registered in Scotland or Wales can operate in England, so check a cross-border firm on its home register.
Common questions
Will my skip firm's CBDU number stop working in July 2027?
Not straight away for most firms. Existing registrations stay valid until the firm gets its permit or reaches its own deadline, which for many is when the current registration expires.
Do I need to do anything differently as a householder?
No. Keep checking the firm's number on the official register and keep a receipt. From July 2027, look for a permit number on the firm's van and adverts.
Why are waste carrier rules changing?
GOV.UK says the reforms are meant to stop waste criminals exploiting a system where anyone could register with few checks. Permits add identity, criminal record and competence checks.
Does the permit rule apply to builders carrying their own waste?
The regulations cover carrying, brokering and dealing in waste in England. Ask the Environment Agency how they apply to a firm that only carries waste it produces itself, as the detail depends on the activity.