The US Environmental Protection Agency advises households to donate working electronics for reuse or recycle them, to delete personal information and remove batteries first, never to put lithium-ion batteries in household garbage or recycling bins, and, for businesses, governments and large purchasers, to use certified recyclers under the R2 or e-Stewards standards.

Why the EPA encourages reuse and recycling

The EPA’s guidance on electronics donation and recycling, last updated on 19 December 2025, says donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, because electronic products contain metals, plastics and glass that take energy to mine and manufacture. It cites a 2006 estimate from the US Geological Survey that recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent of the electricity used by more than 3,500 US homes in a year, and that each million recycled cell phones can yield 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium. Those are 2006 estimates, so they show the principle rather than a current market value. For a computer or laptop, the EPA suggests considering a hardware or software upgrade instead of buying a new product.

Steps to take before handing a device over

The EPA lists a short checklist before donating or recycling used electronics. Delete all personal information from the device. Remove any batteries, because they may need to be recycled separately. Check for recycling facilities in the state or community. The guidance is unambiguous that lithium-ion batteries, and devices containing them, should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. That matters for phones, laptops, tablets, e-readers and any product with a built-in rechargeable battery, and it should be read alongside the general household guidance in the guide to household hazardous waste in the United States.

Where to donate or recycle

The EPA explains that manufacturers and retailers offer several options to donate or recycle electronics, and names three websites where options can be searched: Call2Recycle, Earth911 and Greener Gadgets, with a disclaimer that it does not endorse any of these entities or their services. Its certified recycler page says that for households with smaller amounts of electronics, collection programmes that use certified recyclers can be found through Greener Gadgets, which accepts all types of electronics, and Call2Recycle, which accepts cell phones and rechargeable and single-use batteries. Donation suits electronics that still work, since reuse extends a product’s life, while recycling is for items that cannot be donated or repaired. Checking local government websites for drop-off locations or collection events is a sensible first step, because arrangements vary by state and community.

What certification means: R2 and e-Stewards

The EPA encourages all electronics recyclers to become certified by demonstrating to an accredited, independent third-party auditor that they meet specific standards. Two accredited standards currently exist in the United States: the Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard for Electronics Recyclers, and the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment. According to the EPA, both are based on environmental standards that maximise reuse and recycling, minimise exposure to human health or the environment, ensure safe management of materials by downstream handlers, and require destruction of all data on used electronics. The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board accredits the certifying bodies and publishes an updated list of which body holds accreditation to which standard. The EPA recommends certified recyclers for businesses, governments and large purchasers, and says certified recyclers continue to face oversight from an independent accredited certifying body.

Limits of the guidance

The EPA guidance describes recommended practice. It is not a nationwide legal requirement to use a certified recycler, and the pages do not set out state law. The EPA also completed a limited study of how the R2 and e-Stewards programmes are implemented, to assess whether the standards are applied transparently and consistently, and published recommendations for improving implementation, which shows certification is a useful check rather than a guarantee. Rules on electronics disposal differ between states, so local government websites are the place to confirm what is accepted in household trash or at drop-off sites. Readers in the UK should follow the separate producer-take-back regime described in the guide to old computers and hard drives under the WEEE rules.

FAQs

Should I put an old phone in household garbage or recycling?

No. The EPA says lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins, and that batteries may need to be recycled separately.

What are R2 and e-Stewards?

They are the two accredited certification standards for electronics recyclers in the United States, according to the EPA. Certified recyclers are audited by independent, accredited certifying bodies.

Does the EPA endorse a particular recycling programme?

No. The EPA lists Call2Recycle, Earth911 and Greener Gadgets for information only and states that it does not endorse them or their services.

The bottom line

In the United States the EPA advises deleting personal data, removing batteries, keeping lithium-ion batteries out of household garbage and recycling, donating working devices for reuse and recycling the rest, preferably through a certified R2 or e-Stewards recycler. The guidance is recommended practice, and state and local rules on what may go in the trash or where items can be dropped off still apply. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• US EPA, “Electronics Donation and Recycling” (last updated 19 December 2025)
• US EPA, “Certified Electronics Recyclers”

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The Welsh Government published its Collections Blueprint 2025 on 18 June 2025 as the recommended approach for councils collecting household waste in Wales: weekly separate collections of food waste and dry recycling, residual waste no more often than once every three to four weeks, and around 60 litres a week of residual capacity, although the Blueprint says the Welsh Government does not mandate residual collection frequencies.

What the Blueprint is and where it applies

The Welsh Government describes the Collections Blueprint 2025 as the recommended local authority approach to collecting waste and resources for preparing for reuse, recycling and other treatments. It updates the original Blueprint published in March 2011 and applies to all resources and wastes collected by or on behalf of local authorities in Wales. It is guidance on good practice, so each Welsh council decides its own container types, days and policies. It does not apply in England, where household collections follow a different framework, described in the guide to household recycling collections in England from 31 March 2026.

Kerbside sort recycling and food waste

The Blueprint recommends a kerbside sort approach, in which collectors separate materials at the kerb and can reject incorrect items with feedback to residents. With most Welsh councils now providing at least three containers per household, it recommends three or more containers so that paper and card, glass, and mixed plastic and metal are collected separately. Those streams line up with the separation prescribed for non-domestic properties in Wales. Food waste should be collected separately and weekly, not mixed with green waste, and sent to anaerobic digestion. Councils should provide free kitchen caddy liners, and plastic liners can be considered only where the digestion plant has agreed to accept them. The Blueprint says there is no minimum or recommended capacity for dry recycling, though councils typically provide 150 to 250 litres a week, plus 23 litres a week for food waste.

Residual waste: three to four weeks and 60 litres

Residual waste is the rubbish left after recycling. The Blueprint recommends collecting it no more often than once every three to four weeks, with capacity equivalent to 60 litres or less a week for the standard service, alongside a comprehensive recycling service. It reports that as of mid-2024 most Welsh councils provided a three-weekly or four-weekly residual collection, and that some councils with fortnightly collections restricted volume through smaller wheeled bins or limits on the number of sacks. Weekly residual capacity in 2024 ranged from 40 to 120 litres across councils. The Blueprint says the Welsh Government does not mandate residual frequencies but strongly supports councils that limit them, and that more frequent residual collections should be avoided so they do not undermine recycling. It also says residual policies should be actively enforced, and that change works best when introduced alongside a full recycling service, with clear communications.

Nappies, incontinence products and other special cases

The Blueprint covers absorbent hygiene products, meaning nappies and incontinence pads. It suggests councils promote reusable nappy vouchers and nappy libraries, and says separate collections of these products can ease concerns about less frequent residual collections and are an equality consideration for groups including maternity, age and disability. It advises purple 60 litre bags so contamination can be seen. Households with specific needs are to be considered under its equality section. It also advises councils to discourage residents from putting batteries or small electricals containing lithium-ion batteries in residual waste because of the fire risk, and suggests collecting batteries, small electricals and vapes separately.

Garden waste, bulky items and flats

On garden waste, the Blueprint recommends supporting home composting and regular green waste collections, and says each council must weigh the costs and benefits of charging, noting evidence from some areas that charging reduced the garden waste collected and increased green waste in the residual stream. Bulky waste services should prioritise reuse, repair and recycling, with disposal a last resort, and should consider low-income households and residents without a vehicle. For upholstered seating, it points to regulator guidance on waste that may contain persistent organic pollutants, which the site covers in the guide to POPs in old sofas and chairs. For flats and houses in multiple occupation, the Blueprint says communal services should be as similar as possible to the main kerbside service.

FAQs

Does every Welsh council collect residual waste every three weeks?

No. The Blueprint says most Welsh councils provided a three-weekly or four-weekly residual collection as of mid-2024, but some kept fortnightly collections with smaller bins or sack limits, and the Welsh Government does not mandate frequencies.

Is the Blueprint law?

It is a recommended approach published by the Welsh Government. Councils apply it through their own collection policies.

Does the same approach apply in England?

No. The Blueprint is a Welsh Government document for Welsh local authorities. England has separate collection requirements.

The bottom line

In Wales the Collections Blueprint 2025 recommends weekly separate food waste and dry recycling collections, at least three recycling containers, and residual waste no more often than every three to four weeks at about 60 litres a week. It is guidance rather than a fixed national rule, so the exact service depends on the local council, and households should check their own council’s collection policy. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• Welsh Government, “Collections Blueprint 2025” (PDF)
• GOV.WALES, “Collections blueprint 2025” (published 18 June 2025)

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Under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 a waste collection authority must arrange the collection of household waste in its area and generally cannot charge for it; if a council keeps failing, the route is its own complaints procedure first, then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which will not usually investigate one or two missed collections.

The legal duty to collect household waste

Section 45(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which extends to England, Wales and Scotland, makes it the duty of each waste collection authority to arrange for the collection of household waste in its area. There are narrow exceptions, such as waste at a place the authority considers so isolated or inaccessible that collection cost would be unreasonably high. Under section 45(3), no charge can be made for collecting household waste except in cases prescribed in regulations, and in those cases the duty arises only once the waste is requested and a reasonable charge can be recovered. This guide concentrates on England.

What a council is still allowed to decide

The Ombudsman’s fact sheet on waste and refuse explains that councils can limit the number of bins they will collect, say where a bin must be placed, say what can and cannot go in it, and impose other rules provided they are not unreasonable and adequate notice has been given. It also explains that garden waste collection is a service a council can choose to provide and charge for. A missed collection is a service failure; a rule the householder dislikes is usually a policy choice. Households can compare their own council’s rules with the guide to bin notices and receptacles under sections 46 and 47.

Keeping a record of missed collections

The Ombudsman says records and photographs can be very helpful, so a simple log is worth keeping from the first miss. Useful entries are the date the collection was due, where and when the bin was presented, a dated photograph, and the date and reference of each report to the council. A log also shows whether misses are isolated or a pattern, which matters to the Ombudsman.

Complaining to the council first

The Ombudsman says a complaint should normally go to the council first, and that a council often has more than one stage, usually all completed before the Ombudsman will look. The Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code says councils should have no more than two stages and that the longest a complaint should take is 16 weeks; if there is no final response after that, the Ombudsman says it may be able to make enquiries. A complaint can be brought to the Ombudsman once the council has issued a final response, normally within 12 months of realising the council did something wrong.

When the Ombudsman will and will not get involved

The Ombudsman does not usually investigate complaints of one or two missed collections, does not expect councils to pay a financial remedy for a single missed collection or a limited number of them, and says councils do not give council tax refunds for missed collections. It may investigate a series of missed collections over a number of months, and may get involved sooner where assisted collections are being missed. It also says it cannot deal with a complaint about something that affects all or most people in a council’s area, so a complaint that a council has not yet introduced separate food waste collections under the 2026 Simpler Recycling changes is unlikely to be taken up (see the guide to household recycling collections in England from 31 March 2026).

Assisted collections and what a remedy can look like

Assisted collections are for residents who cannot place their bins out because of disability or mobility problems, with the crew collecting from wherever the bin is kept and returning it afterwards. The Ombudsman’s fact sheet describes a case where a council repeatedly failed to collect a resident’s waste under its assisted collection service. Two further collections were missed after the council added prompts to its in-cab technology, and the Ombudsman found the council at fault, noting that the resident had mobility issues and could not take the uncollected waste away herself. The council agreed to pay £200 for the stress and frustration and to make service improvements.

FAQs

How many missed collections before the Ombudsman will look?

There is no fixed number. The Ombudsman says it will not usually investigate one or two missed collections but may investigate a series over a number of months, and may act sooner for missed assisted collections.

Can I get a council tax refund for a missed bin?

The Ombudsman says councils do not give council tax refunds for missed collections and it does not expect them to.

Can a council charge me to collect household rubbish?

Section 45(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 says no charge can be made for household waste collection except in cases prescribed by regulations. Garden waste collection is a service a council may choose to provide and charge for.

The bottom line

Councils must arrange to collect household waste and cannot generally charge for it, but they may set reasonable rules on bins and collection days. Missed collections should be reported and logged, a complaint made through the council’s own procedure, and the Ombudsman approached once a final response has been received and the problem is a pattern. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, “Waste and refuse” (fact sheet, June 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk, “Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 45: Collection of controlled waste”

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English district councils outside London can issue a civil penalty to the keeper of a vehicle from which litter was thrown, where the person who dropped it cannot be identified, according to Defra’s litter enforcement guidance. The penalty carries no criminal liability, the default amount is £100, and the keeper has 28 days to pay, or to make a formal representation.

Two routes for litter thrown from a vehicle

Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes it an offence to throw down, drop or otherwise deposit litter in a place that is open to the air within a principal litter authority’s area and leave it. Defra’s guidance, issued under section 88B of that Act and applying to England, explains that for littering from a vehicle there are two routes. A fixed penalty notice can be issued to the specific person who dropped the litter, but only if the authority can identify who that was. Where it is not clear who in the vehicle did it, a civil penalty issued to the keeper may be more suitable. This guide covers England only; London litter authorities use a different power, a penalty charge notice under section 24 of the London Local Authorities Act 2007.

How the keeper penalty works

The guidance says district councils outside London can issue the civil penalty to a vehicle’s keeper. It is a civil fine, not a criminal penalty, so there is no risk of prosecution, and it is not an alternative to prosecution: an unpaid notice can be recovered as a civil debt or under a county court order. The keeper is presumed to be the registered keeper, although evidence can be provided to show that someone else kept the vehicle at the time, and liability rests with the keeper at the time of the offence. Officers must be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that litter was thrown from that vehicle onto land the authority must keep clear of litter and refuse.

Penalty amounts

Under the guidance, councils must set penalties within the ranges in the Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (England) Regulations 2017, choosing a level that reflects local circumstances, including ability to pay. For littering from a vehicle the default penalty is £100 and the minimum full penalty is £65. The maximum equals the maximum fixed penalty for littering, which is £500, and the minimum discounted penalty is £50. The guidance says a court could fine up to £2,500 on conviction for littering.

Deadlines and what the notice must say

A penalty notice must set out the circumstances of the alleged offence, including the vehicle’s registration mark if known and a description of the litter. It must give 28 days from the date the notice is given to pay and state that the amount will double if it is not paid in that time. It must say that an unpaid penalty may be recovered in court, and give details of any early-payment discount for payment within 14 days, which must not be less than £50. It must also explain how to pay and that the recipient has the right to make representations.

Only one penalty for one offence

The guidance says that only one penalty can be issued for a single littering offence, either a civil penalty for littering from a vehicle or a fixed penalty under section 88. If a civil penalty is issued and paid, no further enforcement action may be taken against anybody for the same offence. If the notice is cancelled before payment, a fixed penalty may still be issued. Liability is discharged if, before payment, prosecution proceedings are brought against anyone or a fixed penalty is issued for the same offence, whether or not the prosecution succeeds.

Challenging a notice

Unlike a fixed penalty, a civil penalty gives no opportunity to defend the case in court, so authorities must provide a formal process. The guidance says the recipient can dispute a notice at two stages. Within 28 days of service, the recipient may make a formal representation in writing on one or more of the grounds in regulation 14 of the 2018 Regulations, which the guidance says number twelve. If the authority rejects the representation, the recipient may appeal against the notice of rejection to an independent adjudicator. Authorities should respond to representations as quickly as possible, with a maximum response time of 56 days. An authority that accepts a representation must cancel the notice and refund any sum paid.

Identifying the litterer afterwards

The guidance says that if a recipient later provides evidence about who threw the litter, the authority must consider whether that is reason enough to cancel the original penalty. The wider system of litter duties and offences is described in the guide to litter and refuse, and the separate offences for dumping waste are in the guide to fly-tipping and the law. Loads that fall from vehicles on the road are covered in the guide to securing a load.

FAQs

Can a council fine me if someone else in my car threw the litter?

In England outside London a district council can issue the civil penalty to the vehicle’s keeper where the litterer cannot be identified, and the keeper can make a representation, including by identifying the person responsible.

What happens if I do not pay within 28 days?

The guidance says the notice must state that the penalty doubles if unpaid after 28 days and that it may be recovered in court.

Is a civil penalty a criminal conviction?

No. The guidance says it is a civil fine that carries no criminal liability.

The bottom line

In England outside London, the keeper of a vehicle that litter was thrown from can receive a civil penalty when the litterer cannot be identified, with a default of £100, 28 days to pay and a formal representation and adjudicator appeal process. It is separate from fixed penalties issued to identified litterers and cannot be issued alongside them for the same offence. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• Defra, “Litter enforcement powers: when and how to use them”, GOV.UK
• legislation.gov.uk, “Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 87: Offence of leaving litter”

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In England a material is legally waste if the holder has discarded it, according to the Environment Agency’s guidance, and whether that has happened is judged from the holder’s actions and all of eleven factors together, never from one factor alone. A residue can escape waste controls by qualifying as a by-product or reuse, and a recovered material stops being waste only when it meets the four-part end of waste test.

Waste means discarded

The Environment Agency’s guidance, which applies to England, says a material is waste if the holder has discarded it. The holder is the person or legal entity who has the material when it is discarded, and that may not be the owner. A person who has leased a material, for example, becomes the holder. Discarding is assessed from the holder’s actions, and it can be unintentional, involuntary or accidental, or required. The label matters because waste is regulated, as described in the guide to the waste duty of care.

The factors the Environment Agency weighs

The Agency considers all of the following: burden, certainty of use, fit for purpose, a specific purpose, management, environmental harm, common classification as waste, disposal or recovery, fuel or waste, an item returned for a refund, and reuse. The guidance says all the factors must be considered and that it is not possible to decide from a single one, unless the law specifically says the material must be disposed of. A material is generally treated as discarded if it is unsuitable, unwanted or surplus to requirements, making it a burden. The Agency must take a precautionary approach so that the aims of the Waste Framework Directive are not undermined.

Value, labels and returns

Several points in the guidance correct common assumptions. A material with low, no or negative economic value is likely to be discarded, but one with high economic value can still be waste, and scrap metal is the example given. A material commonly regarded as waste is likely, but not certain, to be waste, and appearing in the List of Waste code does not automatically make something waste. Where a material is returned for a refund, it has not been discarded by the holder returning it, although the recipient’s position depends on the same factors.

Reuse: when an item never becomes waste

A material is not waste if all the reuse conditions apply. It must be used for the same purpose for which it was designed, the previous holder must have intended it to be reused, no repair or no more than minor repair must be needed when it is transferred and the previous holder must know that, any necessary repair must be going to be done, the use must be lawful, and it must not be managed in a way that indicates it is waste, such as being stored so it can be damaged. If a material becomes waste before it is reused, the end of waste test then applies. The reuse position for household items is discussed in the guide to what can be sold, donated or reused.

The four by-product conditions

A production process aimed at making intended new products from non-waste materials may produce unavoidable residues, and these have by-product status if they meet four conditions. Further use must be certain, which the Agency assesses by asking whether there is a market or demand for all of the material. The material must be usable directly with no further processing other than normal industrial practice, such as filtering, washing, drying or mechanical size reduction. It must be produced as an integral part of the production process and not be avoidable. Its further use must be lawful, meeting relevant product, environmental and health requirements without overall adverse impacts. The guidance gives wood shavings from furniture production used as animal bedding as a potential example.

The end of waste test

Waste stops being waste only if it has been through a recycling or other recovery operation and meets all four conditions of the end of waste test. The material must be used for specific purposes, a market or demand must exist for it, it must meet the technical requirements and existing legislation and standards applicable to products, and its use must not lead to overall adverse environmental or human health impacts. Once a material is classed as non-waste, waste controls do not apply to it. The guidance says that where it is not clear whether any condition has been met, a precautionary approach should be taken and the condition treated as not met.

Getting the Agency’s view

A producer or holder can self-assess using the guidance, or can ask for the Environment Agency’s opinion on whether a material is a by-product or meets end of waste status through its definition of waste service. That service requires an end of waste request form and acceptance of its terms. Checking where a load ends up is covered in the guide to the public register of permitted sites.

FAQs

Is something waste if it still has value?

Not automatically. The Environment Agency says low or negative value suggests a burden, but a high-value material such as scrap metal can still be discarded and be waste.

Does the guidance apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The page states that it applies to England, and the related publication page lists separate publications for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Can a material stop being waste?

Yes, if it has been through a recycling or other recovery operation and meets all four end of waste conditions.

The bottom line

In England, a material is waste if its holder has discarded it, judged by weighing eleven factors together. Reuse, by-product status and end of waste status are the routes by which materials fall outside waste controls, and each has strict conditions that are treated precautionarily when unclear. Anyone who is unsure can use the Environment Agency’s guidance or its opinion service. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• Environment Agency, “Check if your material is waste”, GOV.UK
• Environment Agency, “Get an opinion from the definition of waste service”, GOV.UK

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Under Regulation 100 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, the load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer must always be secured so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by any part of it falling, being blown off or moving, and GOV.UK guidance for Great Britain sets out how drivers, operators and the people who load a vehicle share responsibility.

The legal duty

Regulation 100(2) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which extends to England, Wales and Scotland, says the load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer must at all times be so secured, if necessary by physical restraint other than its own weight, and be in such a position, that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused to any person or property by the load or any part of it falling or being blown from the vehicle, or by any other movement of the load in relation to the vehicle. Regulation 100(1) adds that the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load must be such that no danger is caused or likely to be caused. The rule applies to anyone driving a van or trailer to a recycling centre as well as to commercial waste operators.

What GOV.UK says about every load

GOV.UK’s guidance on securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles applies to England, Scotland and Wales and covers HGVs, trailers, vans and cars. It states that all loads must be secure regardless of the vehicle, the size or type of the load or the length of the journey. Unsecured loads can affect handling, increase braking distance and the risk of a rollover, and items that fall can hit other vehicles or pedestrians or cause road closures. The guidance says even small, light items can kill someone if they fall from a vehicle travelling at speed.

Covers, sheets and nets for waste loads

For open vehicles and tippers, the guidance lists construction waste and scrap metal among loose loads that can be carried in bulk tippers. It says the body of the tipper prevents the load moving forwards, backwards and sideways, and that covering the load prevents it bouncing out of the vehicle on the road. Where a risk assessment shows a cover is needed, a sheet or net can be used if the load sits below the height of the vehicle sides, though a sheet provides better containment. If the load sits above the sides, a sheet must completely cover the load bed with no gaps on any side. Divisible loads like aggregate or scrap metal higher than the sides need a suitable sheet or solid cover, a net must not be used where the load is higher than the sides, and a driver must not rely on the load settling below the height of the sides.

Who is responsible

The guidance says everyone involved in loading a vehicle or managing a transport operation is responsible for making sure the load is safely loaded, secure during transport and safely unloaded. Operators, drivers and the “consignor”, the person or company putting the load onto the vehicle, must secure all loads and make sure they are transported, loaded and unloaded safely. Operators must make sure vehicles are suitable and roadworthy and give drivers who secure loads training, equipment and instructions, and a driver who does not load the vehicle should check the load if they can and should not proceed if in doubt. A skip company or man and van service that loads a customer’s rubbish is therefore responsible for how it is secured, as considered in the guide to checking a waste carrier.

During the journey

The guidance advises checking load restraints regularly on a journey, particularly for lashing straps and chains, which may lose tension over time, for loads that are likely to settle, such as sand or aggregate, and after any harsh braking or swerve. This is directly relevant to a trailer of garden rubble or a van of house-clearance items on the way to a tip. The wider process of a clearance is in the guide to house clearance, and access rules at tips are in the guide to household waste recycling centre permits.

Penalties and other laws

GOV.UK says a driver can receive an unlimited fine, be banned from driving and get penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. It lists section 40A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, regulation 100 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 among the legislation covering load securing, along with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for asbestos loads, discussed in the guide to suspected asbestos waste. Waste carriers separately need registration, explained in the guide to waste carrier licences.

FAQs

Do the load security rules apply to a householder taking rubbish to the tip?

Regulation 100 applies to any motor vehicle or trailer, so yes: the load must be secured so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by it falling, being blown off or moving.

Do I need a sheet or net over a trailer of rubbish?

GOV.UK says a cover may be needed following a risk assessment; a sheet or net can be used if the load is below the sides, and a sheet must completely cover a load above the sides, with no reliance on the load settling.

Who is responsible if a skip company’s van loses a load?

GOV.UK says operators, drivers and the person or company loading the vehicle all have responsibilities to secure the load and make sure it is transported safely.

The bottom line

Every load of rubbish carried on a vehicle or trailer in Great Britain must be secured so that no danger or nuisance is likely, whether it is a householder’s trailer or a skip lorry. GOV.UK guidance explains covers, nets, tipper loads and the shared responsibilities of drivers, operators and loaders, and the penalties for dangerous loads include unlimited fines and driving bans. Regular checks during a journey help keep loads secure. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles: 1. Responsibility for load security”
• GOV.UK, “Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles: 5. How to load different HGVs, light goods vehicles, small vans and cars”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, regulation 100: Maintenance and use of vehicle so as not to be a danger, etc”

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Regulation 9 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 requires the manager of a house in multiple occupation to provide bins adequate for each household and to make any further arrangements needed for disposal, and regulation 10 requires each occupier to store and dispose of litter in accordance with those arrangements.

What counts as a house in multiple occupation

GOV.UK explains that a house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one household, for example a family, but who share facilities such as a bathroom and kitchen, sometimes called a house share. A property rented to five or more people from more than one household, sharing toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities and where at least one tenant pays rent, is defined as a large HMO and needs a licence in England and Wales, while smaller ones may need one depending on the council. The management regulations discussed here are the England regulations of 2006, made under section 234 of the Housing Act 2004.

The manager’s duty on bins

Regulation 9 says the manager must ensure that sufficient bins or other suitable receptacles are provided, adequate for the requirements of each household occupying the HMO, for the storage of refuse and litter pending their disposal. The manager must also make such further arrangements for the disposal of refuse and litter from the HMO as may be necessary, having regard to any service for such disposal provided by the local authority. The regulations define the manager as the person managing the HMO, which may be the landlord or an agent. The duty is measured by the number of households rather than a fixed number of bins, and it covers both storage and onward disposal.

What further arrangements can involve

The second limb, having regard to the council’s service, means the manager must take account of what the local authority collects and make further arrangements where necessary. If a private collector or contractor is used, the duty of care rules apply, as explained in the guide to waste duty of care, and the carrier should be checked as described in checking a waste carrier. What councils themselves can require about bins is covered in the guide to bin notices under sections 46 and 47.

What occupiers must do

Regulation 10 lists the duties of every occupier. They include conducting themselves in a way that will not hinder or frustrate the manager, allowing the manager access at reasonable times to any living accommodation for the purposes of carrying out duties under the regulations, providing information the manager reasonably requires, and taking reasonable care to avoid damaging anything the manager must supply, maintain or repair. Specifically on rubbish, paragraph (e) requires the occupier to store and dispose of litter in accordance with the arrangements made by the manager under regulation 9. An occupier who leaves rubbish outside the arranged bins is therefore in breach of the regulations, as well as potentially causing problems that councils address under the powers in the guide to litter and refuse.

Enforcement and penalties

Section 234 of the Housing Act 2004 says that a person commits an offence if they fail to comply with a management regulation, subject to a defence of reasonable excuse. On summary conviction the penalty is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. In England the section also refers to civil financial penalties under section 249A as an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences, and a person who has been given such a penalty for conduct amounting to the offence cannot also be convicted of it. Section 234(2)(b) allows the regulations to impose duties on occupiers so that the manager can perform their own duties effectively, which is the basis for regulation 10.

Practical points for tenants and landlords

Landlords and managers can reduce disputes by providing clearly labelled bins in adequate numbers for each household, telling occupiers in writing how and when rubbish is collected, and keeping records of arrangements made. Occupiers can raise a problem with the manager first, because the regulations put the duty on the manager, and then with the council if the problem continues. End-of-tenancy clearances are a separate matter, covered by the guide to clearing a rental property.

FAQs

Who provides the bins in a house share in England?

Under regulation 9 the manager of the HMO must ensure sufficient bins or other suitable receptacles adequate for each household are provided, and make further arrangements for disposal as necessary.

Do tenants have any duties about rubbish?

Yes. Regulation 10(e) requires each occupier to store and dispose of litter in accordance with the arrangements the manager makes under regulation 9.

What happens if a landlord ignores the rules?

Section 234 of the Housing Act 2004 makes non-compliance with a management regulation an offence, with a reasonable excuse defence and a fine up to level 5 on conviction, and England also allows civil financial penalties as an alternative.

The bottom line

In an English house in multiple occupation the manager must provide adequate bins for each household and arrange disposal, and occupiers must use those arrangements. Failing to comply is an offence under section 234 of the Housing Act 2004, with civil financial penalties available as an alternative. The regulations discussed here are the England regulations. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 9: Duty to provide waste disposal facilities”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulation 10: Duties of occupiers of HMOs”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Housing Act 2004, section 234: Management regulations in respect of HMOs”
• GOV.UK, “House in multiple occupation licence”

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Under section 34 of the Public Health Act 1961, a council in England or Wales can take steps to remove rubbish from land in the open air that is seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood, but must first serve the owner and occupier a notice giving 28 days to take the steps themselves or appeal to a magistrates’ court.

Who is covered and where

Section 34 of the Public Health Act 1961 extends to England and Wales. It applies to land in the open air in the council’s area, so it addresses rubbish left in gardens, yards and on vacant plots rather than inside buildings. The power is discretionary: the authority may take such steps as it considers necessary in the interests of amenity, if it appears to the authority that the rubbish is seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood. A neighbour concerned about accumulated waste can report it to the council’s environmental health service, and the related duties on councils for public spaces are covered in the guide to litter and refuse.

What counts as rubbish

Section 34(5) defines rubbish as rubble, waste paper, crockery and metal and any other kind of refuse, including organic matter. It does not include material accumulated for, or in the course of, any business, so stock held by a trader is outside this section. That distinction matters when a yard holds both household leftovers and business materials. The classification of household, commercial and industrial waste is explained in the guide to how the Controlled Waste Regulations classify waste.

The 28-day notice and the owner’s options

The council must serve on the owner and occupier a notice stating the steps it proposes to take, not less than twenty-eight days before acting. During those 28 days, a person served, or any other person with an interest in the land, can serve a counter-notice saying they will take the steps themselves, or appeal to a magistrates’ court on the ground that the council was not justified in concluding that action should be taken or that the proposed steps are unreasonable. If a counter-notice is served, the council can take no further action unless the person fails within a reasonable time to begin, or fails to make reasonable progress. If an appeal is brought, the council cannot act until it is determined or withdrawn, and the court can direct no further action, permit the council to take steps it directs, or dismiss the appeal.

Rats and mice

A different power applies where rubbish attracts pests. Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, which extends to England, Wales and Scotland, allows a local authority that considers steps should be taken to destroy rats or mice on land, or to keep it free of them, to serve a notice on the owner or occupier requiring reasonable steps within a reasonable period. The notice can require a specified treatment or structural repairs or other works, and separate notices can be served on an owner who is not the occupier. Where an owner is prevented by the occupier from carrying out required work, a court can order the occupier to permit it. The Scotland-specific court and appeal wording differs from England and Wales.

Statutory nuisance

Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as it applies in England and Wales, lists statutory nuisances including premises in such a state as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance, and any accumulation or deposit which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance. It places a duty on councils to inspect their areas and, when a person living in the area complains, to take reasonably practicable steps to investigate. The threshold is different from section 34: the matter must be prejudicial to health or a nuisance, rather than seriously detrimental to amenity. Noise issues from waste operations are covered separately in the guide to noise from waste sites and skip operations.

Practical steps

A complaint is usually more effective when it identifies the address, describes the material and its effect, and says whether pests or health concerns are involved, because that indicates whether the council should consider section 34, the pest provisions or statutory nuisance. Owners who receive a section 34 notice should note the 28-day period in the statute and can arrange a clearance themselves, using a registered carrier as explained in checking a waste carrier. Waste that is dumped by others is a separate matter, covered in the guide to fly-tipping.

FAQs

Can a council clear rubbish from my neighbour’s garden?

Under section 34 of the Public Health Act 1961 it may, if the rubbish in the open air is seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood, after serving notice giving 28 days and subject to a counter-notice or appeal.

Does section 34 apply to business materials?

No. Section 34(5) says rubbish does not include material accumulated for, or in the course of, any business.

What if the rubbish is attracting rats?

Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 lets a council serve a notice requiring reasonable steps to destroy rats or mice or keep the land free of them.

The bottom line

Councils in England and Wales have several tools for rubbish accumulating on private land: section 34 of the Public Health Act 1961 for open-air rubbish seriously detrimental to amenity, the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 for rats and mice, and statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Section 34 requires 28 days’ notice and gives a right to counter-notice or appeal. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “Public Health Act 1961, section 34: Accumulations of rubbish”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, section 4: Power of local authority to require action”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 79: Statutory nuisances and inspections therefor”

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When a householder books a waste removal service, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats the contract as including a term that the trader must use reasonable care and skill and that what the trader says about the service is binding, with remedies of repeat performance or a price reduction, and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give a 14-day right to cancel a distance or off-premises booking.

A consumer service contract

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies where a trader agrees to supply a service to a consumer, whether the contract is written, oral or implied from conduct. The provisions on services in sections 49 to 57 apply across the UK. Booking a man with a van, a house clearance team or a skip hire company is therefore covered, whether the price was agreed on the phone, by text or online. The practical steps of choosing a provider are in our guide to checking a waste carrier, and the separate legal duties on waste are covered in waste duty of care.

Reasonable care and skill

Section 49 says every contract to supply a service is treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill. For waste removal, that can include care over damage to the property while items are removed. Section 57 adds that a term of the contract is not binding on the consumer to the extent that it would exclude the trader’s liability under section 49, so a “no liability for damage” notice on a booking form or a van does not remove this right.

What the trader says is binding

Under section 50, anything said or written to the consumer by or on behalf of the trader about the trader or the service is treated as a term of the contract if the consumer takes it into account when deciding to enter the contract or when making a later decision about the service. It is subject to anything that qualified it on the same occasion and to any change expressly agreed. This applies to a quote, a promise that the price includes all labour, or a statement that the driver holds a waste carrier registration. Information that a trader must provide under the Consumer Contracts Regulations is also treated as included, and a change to it is effective only if expressly agreed. The way quotes are built is explained in the guide to comparing waste removal quotes.

Price and timing when nothing is agreed

Section 51 says that if the contract does not fix a price and does not say how it is to be fixed, the consumer must pay a reasonable price for the service, and no more, with reasonableness a question of fact. Section 52 says that where no time for the service is fixed by the contract or by what the trader said, the trader must perform it within a reasonable time. A missed collection date without a fixed slot is therefore assessed by what is reasonable, while a confirmed time in writing becomes a term under section 50.

Remedies if the job goes wrong

Section 54 sets out the consumer’s rights. Where the service does not conform to the contract, the consumer can require repeat performance or a price reduction. Under section 55, repeat performance means doing the service again to the extent needed to complete it in conformity with the contract, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience, at the trader’s cost including labour and materials, unless completing the service is impossible. Section 56 gives a price reduction, which can be the full price, only where repeat performance cannot be required or the trader has failed to do it properly in time. A refund must be given without undue delay and within 14 days of the trader agreeing to it, by the same means of payment used, and without a fee. Other remedies such as damages remain available, without recovering twice for the same loss.

The 14-day right to cancel

The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 apply to distance and off-premises contracts, such as a booking made by phone, online or at the door. Under regulation 29, a consumer may cancel within the cancellation period without giving a reason, and for a service contract the period ends at the end of 14 days after the day the contract is entered into (regulation 30). Regulation 36 says the trader must not begin the service during the cancellation period unless the consumer has made an express request, and in an off-premises contract on a durable medium. If a service is supplied in the period and the contract is then cancelled, the consumer pays an amount in proportion to what was supplied. The right to cancel is lost if the service is fully performed after an express request and with an acknowledgement that the right would be lost. Off-premises contracts costing £42 or less are outside these provisions.

FAQs

Can a firm refuse responsibility for damage with a sign on the van?

Not for its own failure to use reasonable care and skill. Section 57 says a term excluding liability under section 49 is not binding on the consumer to that extent.

Is a quoted price binding?

Under section 50, what the trader says or writes about the service can become a term of the contract if the consumer took it into account, subject to any qualification given at the same time and any expressly agreed change.

Can I cancel a clearance I booked online?

Regulation 29 gives 14 days from the day the contract is entered into for a service booked at a distance, but if the work is done in that period after an express request, a proportionate payment is due and the right may be lost once the service is fully performed.

The bottom line

Booking a rubbish removal service gives a householder the protections of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, including reasonable care and skill, binding statements about the service, and remedies of repeat performance or a price reduction, plus a 14-day cancellation right for distance and off-premises bookings. Keeping the quote, the confirmation and photographs of the job makes any claim easier. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49: Service to be performed with reasonable care and skill”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 50: Information about the trader or service to be binding”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54: Consumer’s rights to enforce terms about services”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 36: Supply of service in cancellation period”
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 51
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 52
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 55
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 56
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 57
• legislation.gov.uk, The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 27
• legislation.gov.uk, The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 29
• legislation.gov.uk, The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 30

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Environment Agency guidance for England says permission is not needed to bury a small domestic pet, such as a dog or cat, on your own land, that larger pets such as a horse must follow minimum groundwater protection distances, and that animals kept as livestock cannot be buried on site.

Pets that can be buried at home

The Environment Agency guidance, which applies to England, says burials must not pollute groundwater, but that no permission is needed to bury domestic pets. A small domestic pet animal such as a dog or cat can be buried on the owner’s own land, for example in a back garden, and there are no minimum good practice groundwater protection requirements for it. GOV.UK’s fallen stock guidance adds that a pet animal is defined in the regulations as any animal belonging to a species normally nourished and kept, but not consumed, by humans for purposes other than farming. The rules are about the animal’s status, so the same guidance treats farm animals differently.

Larger pets and horses

For a larger pet animal such as a pet horse, the guidance says to follow the minimum good practice groundwater protection requirements and to contact the local council’s animal health office, which may ask for a map marking the burial place or have other requirements. GOV.UK’s fallen stock page says that in England horses can be buried whether or not they are pets, while in Scotland and Wales only pet horses can be buried. Those are separate rules for each nation, and this guide focuses on England. For a larger pet the guidance sets a minimum distance of 50 metres from any well, borehole or spring supplying water for human consumption or used in food production, including private water supplies.

Minimum good practice for groundwater

Where the minimum requirements apply, a burial site should be outside a source protection zone 1, at least 250 metres from any well, borehole or spring supplying water for human consumption or used in food production, at least 30 metres from any spring or watercourse not used for those purposes, and at least 10 metres from any field drain, including dry ditches. Those figures are for burials generally, with the different 50 metre distance noted above for larger pets. All animal burial places should have at least 1 metre between the base of the hole and the top of the water table, with no standing water when dug, and should be deep enough for at least 1 metre of soil over the top of the carcass. Burial holes should not be dug in unweathered bedrock or in areas at risk of groundwater flooding.

Livestock and wild game

The guidance is firm that animals kept as livestock, and wild game, must not be buried on site, including at farms and zoos. They can be disposed of through commercial incineration and rendering, or in landfill with the correct environmental permit for animal carcasses. Under normal circumstances, burying fallen stock is not allowed under the Animal By-products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013, with a derogation for the Isles of Scilly. GOV.UK’s fallen stock page names NFSCo, a not-for-profit collection service for farmers and horse owners. The same guidance bans burial or burning of fallen stock in the open. Burning garden waste is a different subject, covered in the guide to garden bonfires and burning waste.

Pet ashes

After a cremation, the Environment Agency says no permission is needed to scatter or bury the ashes of a single pet on the owner’s own land, and no formal record needs to be kept. Permission from the landowner is needed to scatter or bury ashes on someone else’s land. Where ashes are scattered across surface waters such as a river, the guidance says to make sure the effect on the environment and wildlife is minimal, not to affect other watercourse users, and not to scatter memorabilia or other items.

Pet cemeteries and enforcement

Owners and managers of pet cemeteries must follow the minimum good practice groundwater requirements, the Animal By-products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013 and the voluntary code of the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria, and must register the cemetery with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The Environment Agency can take action if large numbers of burials, at once or over time, affect or could affect groundwater quality, and can serve a works notice under section 161A of the Water Resources Act 1991. A household burying one small pet is unlikely to be affected, but the distances above are the benchmark. General guidance on sorting household waste is in the guide to general waste, recycling or hazardous waste.

FAQs

Do I need permission to bury my dog or cat in the garden?

According to the Environment Agency, no permission is needed to bury domestic pets, and there are no minimum groundwater distances for a small pet buried at home.

Can I bury a horse on my land?

In England, GOV.UK says horses can be buried whether or not they are pets. A larger pet must meet the groundwater distances and the council’s animal health office should be contacted.

Can I scatter my pet’s ashes anywhere?

Not anywhere. On your own land no permission is needed, but permission from the landowner is needed elsewhere, and scattering on rivers should have minimal environmental effect.

The bottom line

In England a small pet can be buried on the owner’s own land without permission, larger pets and horses follow groundwater distances, livestock cannot be buried on site, and pet ashes can be buried or scattered on the owner’s land. Scotland and Wales have different rules for horses, so nation-specific advice should be checked. This is general information, not veterinary or legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• Environment Agency, “Animal burials: prevent groundwater pollution” (GOV.UK, published 1 April 2022)
• GOV.UK, “Fallen stock and safe disposal of dead animals”

Related guides

Compare Waste Removal is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write.