What is a Waste Transfer Note?

Waste Transfer Note Guide: Requirements and Information

A waste transfer note (WTN) is a document received by a party who has disposed of waste in a regulated, safe, and legal manner. This includes anybody taking waste directly to a local waste plant, or any company providing a skip-hire service.

It is seen as proof that the non-hazardous waste has been dealt with correctly. A waste transfer note can be a physical or digital document, which should be held onto as evidence.

With a WTN, there is an audit trail of where the waste came from, who handled it, and where it was disposed of, should there be any irregularities that need to be investigated.

Waste transfer notes are important for:

• businesses that dispose of waste on a client’s behalf
• businesses that dispose of their waste (such as builders)
• individuals who hire a company to carry out work and then dispose of used/old materials
• individuals who hire a company to dispose of waste.

It is vital that anyone who hires a company ensures the business completes a waste transfer note and waste is disposed of legally, as customers can also be fined for improper disposal despite not having handled the waste.

So, you must check that anyone you pass your waste to holds the relevant registration or permit. If they’re carrying out a big job for you, they may instead obtain an annual waste transfer note.

Hiring a skip from a reputable company, such as Speedy Services, can help with ensuring waste will be dealt with appropriately. Here at Speedy, we use trusted service providers through our Solutions arm, who will ensure skip waste is dealt with appropriately.

Why are waste transfer notes important?

A WTN is proof that waste was dealt with safely, and not illegally dumped. It is the duty of the person receiving the waste to ensure they obtain one, but anyone hiring a company must check they have one before the transfer of waste.

Fly-tipping is a serious issue in the UK, causing damage to the environment via pollution, and being dangerous for anyone who comes into contact with the waste.

Unfortunately, dubious disposal companies can promise to dispose of waste correctly for a fee but then dump them. This can be traced back to you, as the party who hired them.

What does a waste transfer note include?

A WTN will have relevant data such as:

• a description of the waste
• how waste is packaged
• the quantity of the waste
• the place and date of the waste transfer
• details of the person receiving/disposing of the waste
• the name and address of the waste producer (such as a homeowner/landlord)
• the license or registration number of the waste carrier if they are a dedicated waste business.

So, the entire transfer of waste process can be covered, including who hired the company, which company was responsible, and how it was disposed of.

Do waste transfer notes include hazardous waste disposal?

Hazardous or special waste disposal requires a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note for movement between two places. Waste transfer notes only cover non-hazardous waste.

This is a key thing to consider when choosing your disposal company. If a scrap company promises to dispose of your fridge and tells you they have a waste transfer note, this won’t cover the disposal of hazardous materials.

Instead, you need to look for a company dedicated to handling hazardous goods.

IS THERE SKIP HIRE NEAR ME?

Yes. Speedy Services, the UK's leading tool hire company, also provides skip hire to customers through a third party.

It is the most reliable way to dispose of large quantities of waste. Just let us know what you want to dispose of, and how large your skip will need to be, and we will sort out all of the rest—including reliable, safe disposal.