In Scotland, a business that transports waste produced by someone else, including skip hire and house clearance firms, must hold a SEPA “Transporting waste” registration, and a business that only carries its own waste needs a separate, fee-free “Transporting your own waste” registration.

Who must register in Scotland

NetRegs, the environmental guidance service for Scotland and Northern Ireland, says that from 1 April 2026 businesses that transport waste produced by someone else must have a “Transporting waste” registration from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). It names waste management contractors, house clearance companies and skip hire companies as examples. SEPA describes the activity as covering, for example, commercial waste collections, skip uplift, house clearances, collecting waste textiles and waste soil haulage.

SEPA says a business that transports or arranges the transport of waste must register even if this is only occasional, and that failing to register may result in a fine of up to £5,000. The registration is granted under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations, known as EASR.

Carrying your own waste

A separate “Transporting your own waste” registration applies to businesses that transport only their own waste. SEPA gives gardeners, building trades such as plumbers, joiners and roofers, and food stalls as examples, and says the registration applies whatever type of waste is produced, including a trader’s own construction and demolition waste. NetRegs says the registration replaced the professional collector and transporter registration from 1 April 2026, that existing registrations continue until 31 March 2027 (by which time an EASR application must have been made), and that it carries no conditions and no fee, though it must be renewed every three years and Duty of Care responsibilities still apply. A business that holds a Transporting waste registration does not need this one as well.

Existing registration holders

NetRegs says existing waste carrier registration holders keep their expiry date. They are issued a new EASR registration number when they renew after 1 April 2026, but can continue to use the old waste carrier number as evidence of authorisation for 3 years.

Fees and renewal

SEPA’s Transporting waste page listed a new-registration fee of £304.10 and a three-yearly renewal fee of £198.55 on 21 September 2026. Its application page adds that adding another activity by variation costs 70% of the application charge (£212.87), that a transfer costs £198.55 and that a surrender costs 30% of the application charge (£91.23). Transferring a registration does not reset its three-year period.

Conditions and the fit and proper person test

SEPA says registration is only granted if the applicant can comply with the standard conditions for EASR-SC-035. All waste must be inspected before transport to check it matches the description on the accompanying waste transfer note, and the authorisation reference must be given to anyone from whom waste is collected and be included in any advertisement for waste transport services. Breaching the conditions is an offence.

Fit and proper person tests apply, so an applicant is asked whether they or any additional persons have relevant convictions or civil penalties. An applicant who applies online and has nothing to declare receives the registration by email, while other applications are assessed, with a statutory timescale of 28 days. Applicants must also confirm familiarity with the Duty of Care for waste. SEPA adds that an online application cannot be saved and finished later, so all documents need to be ready before starting, and that company details may be pulled from Companies House, which should be up to date.

Working across borders and checking a carrier

SEPA says a carrier moving waste between Scotland, England and Wales registers with the agency where its main business takes place, and the authorisation is valid in all three countries. Carriers moving waste to or from Northern Ireland must register with both SEPA and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Waste transporters and brokers based in England and Wales register with the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales instead.

SEPA publishes a register of waste transporters and brokers, so a customer can check that a carrier is registered before handing over waste.

FAQs

Does an occasional carrier need to register?

Yes. SEPA and NetRegs both say authorisation is needed even if carrying waste is not the main business or is only occasional.

Do the old Scottish waste carrier numbers still work?

NetRegs says existing holders can keep using the old number as evidence of authorisation for 3 years after they renew and receive an EASR number.

Is there a fee to register for carrying only your own waste?

No. SEPA and NetRegs say there is no fee, but the registration must be renewed every three years.

Does this apply in England or Wales?

No. This guide covers Scotland. Carriers based in England or Wales register with the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales.

Bottom line

In Scotland, carrying other people’s waste needs a SEPA Transporting waste registration, with a listed fee and conditions that include quoting the reference in adverts, while carrying only one’s own waste needs a free registration that must be in place by 31 March 2027 for existing holders. Households hiring a carrier can check SEPA’s public register. This is general information, not legal advice; SEPA can confirm the current position and fees.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 21 September 2026:

• NetRegs, “Transporting waste – who needs to register”
• SEPA, “Transporting waste EASR-SC-035”
• SEPA, “Transporting your own waste EASR-SC-034”
• SEPA, “Transporting waste or acting as a broker or dealer of waste”

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