Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Authority for handling waste
The following are example of persons who may be 
authorised to handle waste:
➤
Council waste collectors – the duty holder does not 
have to do any checks but if they are not a house-
holder, they will still need to complete a transfer note
➤
Registered waste carriers – carriers who are regis-
tered with the Environment Agency. Details of their 
authorisation will be on their carrier’s certifi cate of 
registration
➤
Exempt waste carriers – charities and voluntary 
organisations may be exempted by the Environment 
Agency
➤
Holders of waste management licences – the licence 
will specify what waste the holder is licensed to 
handle
➤
Exempted businesses – the Environment Agency 
may grant exemptions to certain businesses, e.g. 
those recycling scrap metal
➤
Authorised waste transporters – persons authorised 
to receive waste for transport only.
Authorised waste handlers must be licensed by the 
Environment Agency and their licence will specify the 
conditions that they must take to ensure that their activi-
ties do not cause pollution of the environment, harm to 
health or serious detriment to local amenities.
In submitting an application for a licence to handle 
waste, the applicant must submit a formal application 
and prepare a working plan describing how the licensee 
intends to prepare, develop, operate and restore 
(where relevant) the site or plant. The submission of a 
comprehensive working plan may help to prevent delay 
in granting the licence and could also lead to less 
restrictive conditions being imposed.
During consideration of licence applications, the 
application form will be put on the public register although 
this may be restricted on grounds of commercial confi den-
tiality. The Environment Agency must also be satisfi ed that 
the applicant is a ‘fi t and proper person’ in that:
➤
They have made adequate fi nancial provision to 
cover licence obligations
➤
A technically competent person will be managing 
the licensed activity.
The Environment Agency will also consider whether 
there have been any previous convictions for relevant 
offences. Once a licence is issued, the licensee must 
comply with the licence conditions at all times and the 
Environment Agency will make visits to check this.