The big reason you don’t want to hire just any waste management company

“I’ll give you the number of a man with a van,” says Barry from down the pub after you tell him you’ve got a big clear-out planned for the weekend.

While your friends may have the best intentions by trying to save you a few quid, you really shouldn’t let just anyone manage your waste – and for a very important reason…

A waste carrier licence is essential for any worker who handles waste, and the legal, financial and environmental implications of not following the regulations are serious.

Here’s why you need to make sure your UK waste management provider is properly accredited with a waste carrier licence.

What is a waste carrier licence?

Anyone who disposes of waste, or buys and sells unwanted items that are classed as waste, is required to hold a waste carrier licence.

This is true whether the person operates as a self-employed individual (the aforementioned “man with a van”, for example) or a full-service waste management company like SunSkips. Any builders or construction companies that handle waste themselves are also obligated to get a licence.

Failure to have a valid waste carrier licence while providing any kind of waste management service can land you with a £5,000 fine.

How do I know if my waste management company has a licence?

Fortunately, a quick search online is all you need to make sure your waste management company is above board.

Simply search for the company or individual in the Government’s public register of accredited waste carriers and you’ll get your answer in no time (SunSkips is registered under our business name “Stowmarket Skips Ltd”).

It’s worth taking a few seconds to do this because while you may not be aware of what happens to your waste once it’s been collected, you definitely don’t want anyone dumping your waste illegally in case you get a knock on the door from the police.

The fight against fly-tipping

One of the main reasons waste carrier licences came into being was to stop unscrupulous workers from offering waste management services, throwing the rubbish into the back of a van and dumping it on a country lane.

This is particularly common with hard-to-dispose-of waste such as fridges and dried up paint cans, as reputable companies usually require a surcharge to take care of these things properly.

Not only is fly-tipping a blight on our countryside, but it’s also an incredibly risky thing to do. Offenders can expect fines of up to £50,000 and even prison time of up to 12 months.

Police investigations are becoming more and more in-depth and officers will soon be able to employ tracking technology – so it could easily be traced directly back to you.

How do you get a waste carrier licence?

There are two types of waste carrier licences available.

Lower-tier waste carrier licences cover you for waste you’ve generated yourself. For example, a builder disposing of waste from a construction job usually only needs a lower-tier waste carrier licence.

A lower-tier licence is free and once you have one, it’s valid for life.

Skip hire and commercial waste management businesses like SunSkips need to hold a valid upper-tier waste carrier licence to operate legally. It costs £154 to register and must be renewed every three years at a cost of £105.

To apply, simply fill out your details on the Government website, being sure to include details of any environmental offences against your name.

Looking for a professional waste management service that has all its legal paperwork in order? Call SunSkips today, whether you need domestic skip hire or full-service commercial waste management.