Hazardous Waste Consignment Note: A Complete Guide

A hazardous waste consignment note is the document that must be prepared before hazardous waste leaves your premises and that travels with it to its final destination. It records where the waste came from, what it is, who carried it and where it went. In England, producers must keep their copies for three years, carriers for at least 12 months and permitted receiving sites for five years.

This guide covers when you need a waste consignment note, what goes in each part, who signs what, how multiple collections work, how long to keep records, and how Digital Waste Tracking is changing the process.

When you need a hazardous waste consignment note

According to the GOV.UK consignment note guidance, a consignment note is needed for every movement of hazardous waste in England, including:

• collections by a registered waste carrier
• movements between premises owned by the same business
• waste removed from a customer's premises, for example by an engineer or contractor

The note must be prepared before the waste is moved. There are limited exceptions:

• domestic hazardous waste (other than asbestos) moved from a household to an initial collection point
• imports and exports under international waste shipment controls, which use a different movement document
• emergency services responding to a genuine emergency

Non-hazardous waste moves under a waste transfer note instead. Our waste transfer note guide explains that document. If you are not sure whether your waste is hazardous, start with what counts as hazardous waste.

The five parts of a consignment note

A valid note must contain every field and stay close to the official example layout. GOV.UK warns that a note with missing fields, reworded declarations or a different layout is not usable.

Part A: notification details (producer or holder)

• A1 consignment note code: in England, the format is XXXXXX/YYYYY. The first six characters are the first six letters or numbers of the company name in A2, ignoring symbols and spaces (padded with Q if the name is short). The last five are chosen by you and must change for every consignment.
• A2: the premises the waste is removed from, with postcode and contact details.
• A3: the consignee's name and address. Check the site has a permit or exemption for the waste.
• A4: the producer, or "as A2" if the producer is the same.

Suffix letters are added in specific cases: V for waste removed from ships, F for fly-tipped waste, D for movements under a consignee return derogation and P for continuous piped waste.

Part B: description of the waste (producer or holder)

• B1: a full written description of the process that produced the waste.
• B2: the SIC 2007 code for that process (NACE codes are also accepted).
• B3: for each waste: a full description (the short List of Waste description alone is not normally enough), the six-digit EWC or List of Waste code, quantity in kilograms, chemical or biological components and concentrations, physical form, hazard codes (with "POP" for persistent organic pollutants), container type and number, and UN transport details where relevant.

Part C: carrier's certificate

The carrier checks Parts A and B, then certifies them and adds its own details before removing the waste. The note is valid only for the named carrier and vehicle.

Part D: consignor's certificate

The consignor (usually the producer or holder) must be present at collection and signs to confirm a set of declarations, including that the carrier is registered, that the carrier has been given information on precautions and handling, and that the waste hierarchy duty has been applied. The waste hierarchy guide explains that duty.

Part E: consignee's certificate

On arrival, the receiving site records the codes received, accepted or rejected, the weight actually received in kilograms, the recovery (R) or disposal (D) operation, the vehicle registration, the date and time, and its permit or exemption number.

Copies: who keeps what

1. The producer or holder normally prepares three copies of Parts A and B.
2. After Parts C and D are signed, the consignor keeps one copy and gives one to the producer or holder if they are a different party.
3. The remaining copies go with the carrier, who delivers the waste to the consignee.
4. The consignee receives two copies from the carrier and completes Part E.

Multiple collections and carrier schedules

A carrier can run a multiple collection when waste is collected from two or more premises in England and Wales (at least one in England), on a single journey, by a single carrier, all going to one consignee. Each note on the round carries the same round number in Part C (up to 15 characters, agreed with the consignee) and a sequential collection number. The consignee certifies the total number of consignments in Part E. Where more than one carrier or vehicle is involved, a carrier schedule is needed.

Rejected loads and amendments

The consignee must reject waste if the note is missing, the site is not named in A3, the site is not authorised for the waste, the classification is wrong, the vehicle does not match or the note has been changed without confirmation. Consignees must not correct Parts A to D themselves. Once the carrier has signed, Parts A, B and C cannot be changed, and once the consignor has certified or the waste has left, nothing in Parts A to D can be amended.

How long to keep a hazardous waste consignment note

Retention periods in England come from the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005:

• Producers and holders: keep a register, including consignment notes, consignee returns, carrier schedules and records of rejected loads, for three years at the premises that produced or stored the waste (regulation 49).
• Carriers: keep records for at least 12 months from delivery, at their principal place of business (regulation 50). Brokers and dealers must obtain the producer's records and keep them for three years.
• Permitted receiving sites: keep consignment notes for five years and other records while the permit lasts. Landfill sites keep all records while they hold the permit. Exempt sites keep records for three years.

If a document is incomplete or inaccurate, GOV.UK says you must keep a record of the missing information.

Consignee returns

Every quarter, the receiving site must send separate consignee returns to the Environment Agency and to the producer or holder. Returns for July to September 2026 are due by 31 October 2026, and returns for October to December 2026 by 31 January 2027. If you do not receive yours, ask for them in writing. If they still do not arrive, GOV.UK advises contacting the Environment Agency and stopping use of that waste business.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

• Wales: premises producing or storing more than 500kg of hazardous waste a year must register with Natural Resources Wales, renewing every 12 months at no charge. The six-character registered premises code forms the start of the consignment note code, with EXEMPT or MOBILE used in A3 where they apply.
• Scotland: hazardous waste is called special waste and moves under a special waste consignment note (SWCN) issued by SEPA. Movements within Scotland do not need pre-notification, but movements into or out of Scotland do, at least 72 hours and no more than one month before. Since June 2022 SEPA accepts consignment notes only by email.
• Northern Ireland: notes and codes are bought from NIEA, and most movements must be pre-notified at least 72 hours and no more than one month ahead.
• Cross-border: waste coming into England from Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales uses the origin country's note. Waste going from England to Scotland or Northern Ireland needs an extra copy sent to SEPA or NIEA at least 72 hours before the move.

Digital Waste Tracking and the end of paper notes

Since 1 October 2026, every permitted or licensed site receiving waste in England and Wales must record each load in Defra's Digital Waste Tracking service within two working days, including List of Waste codes, HP codes, components and concentrations for hazardous loads. Loads covered by several consignment notes are entered separately.

The GOV.UK Digital Waste Tracking guidance is clear that, until further notice, hazardous waste consignment notes, waste transfer notes and consignee returns must still be completed. The government's 2023 consultation response confirmed the long-term plan is for the service to replace consignment notes, transfer notes and pre-notification. Carriers, brokers and dealers are due to join from October 2027. Read our Digital Waste Tracking update for the timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you keep a hazardous waste consignment note?

In England, producers and holders must keep consignment notes and their register for three years, carriers for at least 12 months from delivery, and permitted receiving sites for five years. Landfill sites keep them for as long as they hold the permit.

Who fills in a hazardous waste consignment note?

The producer or holder completes Parts A and B, the carrier completes Part C, the consignor signs Part D when the carrier arrives, and the receiving site (consignee) completes Part E.

What is the difference between a waste transfer note and a consignment note?

A waste transfer note covers non-hazardous waste. A hazardous waste consignment note is needed for hazardous waste and replaces the transfer note for that movement, with more detail on composition, hazard codes and handling.

Can I write my own consignment note?

Yes. Notes can come from your waste contractor, be bought from the Environment Agency or be produced yourself, as long as every field is included and the layout stays close to the official example.

Does Digital Waste Tracking replace consignment notes?

Not yet. GOV.UK says consignment notes and consignee returns must continue until further notice alongside Digital Waste Tracking, which receiving sites in England and Wales have had to use since 1 October 2026.

What is a consignee return?

A consignee return is a quarterly report the receiving site sends to the Environment Agency and to the producer or holder, confirming the hazardous waste it received. Producers should keep returns with their consignment notes.

How Waste Experts handles consignment notes

Waste Experts helped build Defra's Digital Waste Tracking service ahead of its October 2026 launch, so we understand how the paper and digital records fit together. For every hazardous collection we prepare the consignment note, check the codes and descriptions with you, and record the load at our permitted treatment facility in Kirkheaton (permit WEE/ME0006ZT/ATF).

You get the paperwork you need for your three-year register, and your consignee returns arrive as required. Find out more about our hazardous waste collection service.

Business customers only. Waste Experts collects from businesses and organisations, not households, and CEF branch drop-off is for business waste only. If you are getting rid of waste from your home, use your council's household waste recycling centre or a retailer take-back scheme instead.