If you work anywhere near waste - moving it, receiving it, brokering it, producing it, regulating it - you'll know that due diligence isn't just a nice-to-have. It's part of keeping the whole system honest, safe and compliant.
But here's the thing: most people want to do the right checks… they're just not always sure which registers apply to which activities. And that's fair. The UK regulatory landscape isn't exactly known for its simplicity.
So this isn't a lecture. It's simply an awareness piece - a quick, clear run-through of the public registers you should be checking, and where to find them.
The Key Registers You Should Be Looking At
Depending on the activity, you may need to check one, some, or all of these:
- Environmental permits / waste management licences
- Waste exemptions
- Waste carrier, broker and dealer registrations
- Scrap metal dealer licences
- ATF approvals (End-of-Life Vehicles)
- AATF approvals (WEEE treatment)
- Battery treatment/export approvals
- Packaging & EPR compliance records
- IWS (International Waste Shipments) Annex VII / notifications
- Companies House (to confirm the legal entity you're dealing with)
These checks help you confirm that the business is authorised for what it says it's doing - nothing more, nothing less.
Where You Actually Check Them
England – Environment Agency (EA)
- Permits, exemptions, carriers/brokers/dealers, scrap metal licences: Public Register
- Packaging & PRN/PERN data: NPWD
- International Waste Shipments (IWS Online): Importing and exporting waste
Wales – Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
- Permits, licences, exemptions: Check a permit or licence
- Waste carriers, brokers and dealers: Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
- Packaging & EPR (via NPWD): NPWD
Scotland – SEPA
- Waste management licences, PPC permits, exemptions: Search the public register
- Waste carriers and brokers: SEPA waste carriers
- Packaging & EPR (via NPWD): NPWD
UK-wide
- Companies House: Find and update company information
- Scrap Metal Dealer Licences: issued by local authorities — check the relevant council website
Where What Waste Code Fits In
Now, just to be crystal clear: What Waste Code doesn't replace any of these registers - and it shouldn't. Regulators' systems are the official source of truth.
What Waste Code simply brings the information together in one place so you can:
- See whether a site has a permit or exemption
- Check if it appears on other relevant registers
- View any accreditations or certifications the operator has shared
- Quickly identify suitable sites before you head off to the official registers to verify
It's about making due diligence easier, not changing the rules. A bit of clarity. A bit of time saved. A bit less clicking around five different websites.
If you want to put this into practice, start your search or browse the rest of our blog.
