Homeowners tackling autumn clearouts in October could face a fine of up to £600 if they hire a rubbish removal company that is not properly registered. A recent investigation found that most adverts for such services do not include the necessary waste-carrier registration number.
The warning comes as people across the UK prepare their homes for the Christmas rush by clearing out unwanted belongings, furniture, and garden waste. While many may be tempted to call a rubbish removal company to speed up the process, experts caution that failing to verify the firm's credentials could prove costly.
Investigation finds 97% of adverts lack registration numbers
The investigation, carried out by London-based waste collection company Rubbish Removal UK, manually checked 150 unique adverts offering waste removal services in London on a popular classified ads website. Of those, 146 adverts — 97% of the sample — did not include a waste-carrier registration number.
A waste-carrier registration number is a unique ID given to businesses that transport, buy, sell, or arrange waste. Customers would need to obtain further details or search the business name on the Environment Agency's public register to verify that the company is a licensed waste carrier, in line with government guidance, and avoid a potential penalty if their disposed waste is investigated.
Penalties for failing to check
In England, homeowners who fail to take reasonable measures to transfer their waste to an authorised person can face a fixed penalty of up to £600. The findings come as homeowners tackle autumn garage, shed, and garden clear-outs, and as fly-tipping incidents continue to affect councils throughout the UK.
Stan Staykov, owner of Rubbish Removal UK, said: "When you pay someone to take away your old furniture, bags of rubbish, or garden waste, it is easy to assume that the job ends when the van drives off. However, homeowners should always verify that the person collecting their rubbish is actually registered and in possession of a valid licence."
He added: "Ask for the registered business name and their waste-carriers license number, then look them up with the Environment Agency before handing over your waste."
How to check if a company is legitimate
Government guidance says homeowners hiring a private waste collection business should check that the carrier has an up-to-date, valid upper-tier registration. The Environment Agency's public register can be searched using a registration number, business name, or postcode.
Rubbish Removal UK recommends three steps before hiring any waste collection company. First, ask for the registered business name and waste-carrier registration number. Then, check the registration on the public register, making sure it relates to the operator collecting your waste. Finally, keep the business details and receipt, as these can help show the checks you made if your waste is investigated further down the line.
