Waste transfer license help please

Hello everyone, I have been trawling the forum for several days since I have joined trying to make sure I keep my new business on the right side of the law.

I intend starting out this year in the garden maintainence/landscaping business. I already have previous experience as since being made redundant over 18 months ago, I have laid several patios and driveways and done numerous gardening works for people.

I am now looking to run this as a business, which raises the topic of waste transfer licences. I don't particularly want to remove waste from jobs - but we have no green/brown bin system in my area and I know of several potential clients that want major garden clearances doing.

I have already spoken to my centre (Organic Recyling at Crowland) they are happy to accept my material as long as I have a licence. I am hoping that someone here can clarify if I need to give each and every customer I remove garden waste from a waste transfer note?

I am trying to operate on the right side of the law, not like unscrupulous traders that cut hedges and dump the waste down a farm track in the dead of night.

Hope someone can clarify the situation here. Thanks in advance!

This is how i do things as well,

majority of the time the client is not in to sign and this is fine, their name and adress is on the transfer note after all if EA wanted to check anything.

I also believe we are supposed to keep a copy of waste transfer notes but most of the time i will write it out in the van before going to the dump and dont bother to write out a copy, if i happen to be at home before making the trip i photo copy the note but even then dont always remember! I do of course keep every reciept from the tip though for the tax man.

For those people who dont know, you need a waste transfer licence to be legal and then every time you visit the dump you will need to have a waste transfer note filled out to hand over, You cant just turn up with your licence and thats it, you must have the additional paperwork in order. I believe that before travelling anywhere with your van full of waste you should have the transfer form already filled out, if you were stopped and checked and you have a licence but no extra paperwork as i understand it you are technically illegal! but dont quote me on it!

Paul @ PPCH Services said:

I have a transfer license and collect and file the transfer notes from the transfer station weigh bridge. I don't personally give the client i am removing waste for any paperwork. I think technicaly i should, something i need to look into and maybe get carbon paper duplicate books made for.

Replies

phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com February 20, 2011 at 10:17pm

there was a topic about this a few days ago, my opinion is to just get a waste licence to be on the safe side £154 for 3 years
Adam Pilgrim February 20, 2011 at 10:22pm

Thanks for that fast reply Phil, I assumed that was going to have to be my course of action. Hopefully some-one can clarify the procedure on waste transfer notes (ref giving copies to customers ect) also if I arrange a skip for a job do I have to be a registered waste broker??

Sorry about all the questions but the Enviroment Agency site seems very confusing about the regulations and I really appreciate the chance this forum gives me to actually speak to people who do this day in and day out.
phil smith yewtreelandscapes.com February 20, 2011 at 10:29pm

when i got mine i visited my local enviroment agency which is not to far from me in twyford nr winchester and filled the form in there and then and paid them, recieved my licence 3 weeks later, i dont give my customers a ticket for waste removal just put it on the price of the job
Tim Haywood February 21, 2011 at 7:36am

I'm pretty sure that a householder would not need a copy of the transfer note. They are to track waste flow business-to-business e.g. producer (you) through waste carrier (probably you, or skip company) through to waste disposal (weighbridge site).

More here (section 7.15): http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/controls/documents/waste-...

Wouldn't it be good to have a document on here that covered our responsibilities with waste once and for all?
PRO

Geoffrey King February 21, 2011 at 9:29am

When you take waste from the customer' garden you need to give them a WTN , a waste transfer note, see below.

When you dispose of the waste, you get another WTN from the people you are giving the waste to.

In the process you create a paper trail and more waste. Typically we email the waste note, for the customer to print off, sign & return to us.

Tim Haywood said:

I'm pretty sure that a householder would not need a copy of the transfer note. They are to track waste flow business-to-business e.g. producer (you) through waste carrier (probably you, or skip company) through to waste disposal (weighbridge site).

More here (section 7.15): http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/controls/documents/waste-...

Wouldn't it be good to have a document on here that covered our responsibilities with waste once and for all?
Anthony Toop February 21, 2011 at 9:47am

This is how i do things as well,

majority of the time the client is not in to sign and this is fine, their name and adress is on the transfer note after all if EA wanted to check anything.

I also believe we are supposed to keep a copy of waste transfer notes but most of the time i will write it out in the van before going to the dump and dont bother to write out a copy, if i happen to be at home before making the trip i photo copy the note but even then dont always remember! I do of course keep every reciept from the tip though for the tax man.

For those people who dont know, you need a waste transfer licence to be legal and then every time you visit the dump you will need to have a waste transfer note filled out to hand over, You cant just turn up with your licence and thats it, you must have the additional paperwork in order. I believe that before travelling anywhere with your van full of waste you should have the transfer form already filled out, if you were stopped and checked and you have a licence but no extra paperwork as i understand it you are technically illegal! but dont quote me on it!

Paul @ PPCH Services said:

I have a transfer license and collect and file the transfer notes from the transfer station weigh bridge. I don't personally give the client i am removing waste for any paperwork. I think technicaly i should, something i need to look into and maybe get carbon paper duplicate books made for.
Lawnman February 21, 2011 at 10:10am

As already stated get a licence. Then locate your local waste transfer station and ask them what paper work they require from you in order to drop your rubbish. This should clarify waste transfer note administration.

My problem locally is most commercial sites will take rubbish but have minimum tipping charge which varies from £100 for the site 3 miles away to £25 at a site 10 miles away, so make sure you factor in cost of disposal when quoting.

When it is a residential garden I give customer option of paying for waste removal, or I will bag it for them and they can dispose of it themselves at their local civic amenity site.
Anthony Toop February 21, 2011 at 10:28am

Im lucky, in the Bromley borough i have the option of two council public/trade waste sites, one of which is 0.5 miles from my front door and minimum charge is £20 for approx upto 180 kilos, though weight wise most of the time i should be paying half that!

Lawnman said:

My problem locally is most commercial sites will take rubbish but have minimum tipping charge which varies from £100 for the site 3 miles away to £25 at a site 10 miles away, so make sure you factor in cost of disposal when quoting.

When it is a residential garden I give customer option of paying for waste removal, or I will bag it for them and they can dispose of it themselves at their local civic amenity site.
Adam Pilgrim February 21, 2011 at 11:01am

Thanks for all the replies, yes I have contacted Organic Recycling who do require the waste transfer notes. They are looking to charge me £15-20 per van and trailer load or on account £25 per ton plus VAT. This sounds reasonable compared to what other sites are charging. My local tip allows no commercial waste at all of any description.

My waste carriers licence application is on its way to the Enviroment Agency at present. Also got the business insurance sorted through Simply Business after doing a quick search on here and finding them recommended.

All in all Landscape Juice is already proving to be one of the most helpful sites I am a member of!
Tim Haywood February 21, 2011 at 12:29pm

I'm quite happy to be wrong. Can you show me some documentation that states this?

Geoffrey King said:

When you take waste from the customer' garden you need to give them a WTN , a waste transfer note, see below.