Whenever special waste is moved or transferred it must be accompanied by a consignment note.
SEPA tracks the movement of special waste through consignment notes. This ensures the responsible management of the waste from its point of origin until it reaches an authorised recovery or disposal facility.
Transportation and transfer
You should evaluate the recycling, recovery and disposal options available for the different types of special waste you produce. Ensure that special waste is:
- transported by a registered or exempt waste carrier
- accompanied by a consignment note
- transferred to a facility that holds a suitable PPC permit, waste management licence or a registered exemption.
You can check to see if your waste carrier is registered on the SEPA website.
SEPA: Who is registered
You can check all other permits by contacting your local SEPA office.
SEPA: Contact SEPA
Report fly-tipping
If you see anyone dumping waste illegally report it on the Dumb Dumpers website or stop line on
0845 2 30 40 90.
Dumb dumpers
Special waste consignment notes
You must pre-notify your local SEPA office if the transfer is:
- a single movement of special waste or
- the first in a series of special waste movements.
The pre-notification must state the destination of the waste at least three working days and not more than one month before special waste is moved within Scotland, or imported into Scotland from England or Wales.
To move special waste produced in Scotland, your consignment note must include a unique Scottish code. You can get unique Scottish codes and consignment notes from your local SEPA office.
SEPA: Contact your local SEPA office
You can also buy consignment notes online using the SEPA website.
SEPA: Purchase special waste consignment notes LINK
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 at least three years.
Guidance on how to complete the paperwork when moving special waste produced in Scotland is available from SEPA.
SEPA: Guide to consigning special waste (Scotland) (Adobe PDF - 1.34MB)
Certain types of special waste movements are exempt from pre-notification. 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 only contains lead-acid vehicle batteries.
Movements of special wastes that are exempt from pre-notification must still be accompanied by a consignment note.
Cross-border shipments of special waste
You can find details of how the consignment system works for special waste being exported from Scotland to England, Wales or Northern Ireland on the SEPA website.
SEPA: Special waste amendment (Scotland) regulations 2004 - Frequently asked questions
SEPA: Special waste advisory notes
See our guidance on importing and exporting waste
