What do you need to do?
SEPA tracks the movement of special waste through a consignment note system. This ensures that waste is responsibly managed from its point of origin until it reaches an authorised recovery or disposal facility.
You must pre-notify SEPA, at the office local to the destination of the waste, at least three working days, and not more than one month, before special waste is moved in Scotland, or imported into Scotland from England or Wales. For waste produced in Scotland, a consignment note must be used that contains a unique Scottish code. The codes and consignment notes can be obtained from SEPA.
The consignment note must include:
- details of your premises including address and postcode
- the unique code
- details of everyone involved with the movement of the waste
- an accurate description of the waste.
You must identify all hazards and hazardous properties associated with the special waste on the consignment note. You must keep consignment notes for three years.
Guidance on the completion of the paperwork that must be completed when moving special waste produced in Scotland is available from the SEPA website.
Certain types of special waste movements are exempt from pre-notification, but should still be accompanied by a consignment note. The exemption will apply to you if :
- you regularly produce and transport the same type of waste to the same disposal or recovery facility. You only need to pre-notify SEPA of the first consignment in any one year
- your business operates on a number of sites, and you transport your special waste to one central site that holds a suitable licence, permit or exemption to receive the waste
- you return faulty products or materials with hazardous properties to the person who supplied them
- your consignment consists solely of lead-acid motor vehicle batteries.
Cross-border shipments
Details of how the consignment system works for special waste being exported from Scotland to England, Wales or Northern Ireland can be found on the SEPA website.
- Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004: Frequently Asked Questions
- Import and export of waste
