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UK waste law and your duty of care
Plain-English guides to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, duty of care, waste transfer notes, carrier licensing and the fines for getting it wrong in Kent.
- 5 guides in this topic
- Written by Daniel Hartley
- Reviewed by Priya Raman
Quick answer
UK waste law and your duty of care
Under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 you stay legally responsible for your waste until it reaches a permitted site. Using an unregistered carrier can bring a fixed penalty of up to £600 or an unlimited fine in court, even when someone else did the fly-tipping.
Reviewed by Daniel Hartley, Operations Director & licensed waste carrier · Last updated 2 August 2026
Most people only discover waste law after something goes wrong: a fly-tip traced back to an envelope in a bin bag, or a council letter asking for a transfer note nobody ever received. These guides explain the rules in the order they actually affect you.
Everything here reflects Environment Agency guidance and the legislation as it applies in England. Where Kent councils apply their own charges or permit rules, we say so.
Guides in this topic
- What is the waste duty of care?Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in plain English — what householders and businesses must check, keep and prove when someone takes View
- What is a waste transfer note?What a compliant waste transfer note contains, how long to keep it, who signs it, and how digital notes work for Kent households and businesses.View
- What is the fine for fly-tipping in Kent?Fixed penalty amounts, court fines, vehicle seizure and how Kent councils trace fly-tipped waste back to the household that paid for it to be removed.View
- How do I check if a waste carrier is licensed?Step-by-step guide to checking a waste carrier registration on the Environment Agency public register, and the difference between upper and lower tierView
- What are the rules for business waste in the UK?Commercial waste law in plain English: why trade waste cannot go in household bins or to the tip, what records you must keep and how the waste hierarcView
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