Do businesses need waste transfer notes?

Yes. Any business that produces controlled waste — including shops, offices, restaurants, and warehouses — must have a waste transfer note for every collection. This is a legal requirement under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, regardless of the size of your business.

Trade waste (also called commercial waste) is any waste produced by a business, charity, or public organisation. It includes office paper, packaging, food waste, plastics, and general refuse. It does not include household waste from domestic properties.

Does my waste contractor handle the WTN for me?

No. While your waste carrier may provide their own documentation, the legal duty of care for producing a waste transfer note sits with the business that produces the waste. You must ensure a valid WTN exists for every collection and keep copies for at least 2 years.

Trade & Commercial Waste

Waste Transfer Notes for Trade & Commercial Waste

Shops, offices, restaurants, warehouses, and any business producing commercial waste need a waste transfer note for every collection. Whether you manage your own waste or rely on a contractor, the duty of care is yours. QWTN makes compliance simple.

Create a Free WTN →See Pricing

Sound familiar?

The paperwork pain

Confusion over duty of care

Many businesses assume waste compliance is someone else’s problem. Legally, the duty of care sits with the business that produces the waste.

Relying on your waste contractor

Your waste carrier may handle collections, but you are still responsible for having a valid waste transfer note for every load.

Not knowing which EWC codes to use

Is your office waste 20 03 01 or 20 01 01? Using the wrong code makes your note non-compliant.

Not keeping records for 2 years

The law requires you to store waste transfer notes for at least 2 years. If you cannot produce them on request, you face fines.

How QWTN helps

Built for Commercial Waste

Season Tickets

One note covers 12 months of regular collections — ideal for weekly bin rounds from shops, offices, and restaurants.

Saved Clients

Save your waste carrier details once. Reuse them on every note without retyping.

EWC Code Lookup

Search 800+ codes — type "cardboard" or "food waste" and find the right code in seconds.

Carrier Verification

Check that your waste contractor is EA-registered before handing over your waste.

2-Year Cloud Storage

Every note stored securely and retrievable instantly. Legal retention handled automatically.

Invoicing

Link waste notes to invoices for a complete audit trail of your waste collections and costs.

Quick reference

Common EWC Codes

20 03 01Mixed municipal waste

20 01 01Paper and cardboard

15 01 01Paper and cardboard packaging

20 01 39Plastics

See all trade & commercial waste EWC codes

Simple pricing

Plans that fit your operation

Recommended

Solo

£12/month

One-person operations

Carrier

£29/month

Teams up to 5

Fleet

£69/month

Unlimited team

All plans include a free trial. One-off notes are always free, no account needed.

Learn more

Small Business Guide to Waste Duty of Care (UK)

Even the smallest UK business has a legal duty of care for its waste. This guide explains what small businesses must do, common misconceptions, and the simplest way to stay compliant.

UK Duty of Care for Waste: What Every Business Must Know

Every UK business that produces, carries, or disposes of controlled waste has a legal duty of care. This guide explains your obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

How Long Must You Keep Waste Transfer Records in the UK?

Waste transfer notes must be kept for a minimum of 2 years, or 3 years for hazardous waste consignment notes. Learn the exact retention periods, what counts as keeping a record, and best practices.

Common questions

FAQ

Get your commercial waste compliance sorted in 60 seconds

Create compliant waste transfer notes for every collection — free to start.

Create a free note →Create free account

No sign-up needed for one-off notes · 2-year cloud storage · DEFRA 2026 ready