What are Waste Transfer Notes?

Posted on March 12, 2018 in Waste Solutions

Waste Transfer Notes comprise of detailed information, completed at the time of transfer between two parties. A detailed account stating accurate information about what materials have been collected, what volume, when, where, and by who, outlining the following information:

• The waste carriers registered number
• The collection date, time and address
• The overall description of waste or waste category
• Total Volume
• A Breakdown list of each type of waste material
• The transferors details, name and signature
• The transferees details, name and signature

Filling In The Blanks

Under the Governments Code of Practice, it’s mandatory for a waste transfer note to be completed each time waste is transferred from one party to another. Hazardous waste may require a separate hazardous waste consignment note to be completed too.

The Environmental Agency can demand to have sight of waste transfer notes at any time, so it’s important not to throw any notes away for at least two years. Waste Transfer Notes help create a significant audit trail, enabling any waste to be tracked right back to the original party disposing of it.

A trail reflecting the control of waste transfer of how ownership and responsibility of waste was transferred through a formally signed receipt.

Business Benefits – Get Savvy with WTNs

Taking shortcuts in not producing waste transfer note documentation is a criminal offence which can lead to prosecution. Similarly if you’re an organisation disposing of waste and you don’t obtain a WTN from a registered carrier, you could face prosecution if a rogue rubbish collector has fly tipped your waste. Although some local authorities state it’s not important who provides the note and as long as it contains the right information and signatures, Protech will always provide you with a WTN.

Other benefits to waste carriers include being able to collate data from waste transfer notes annually to analyse volumes of disposed waste and the types of waste streams to see how processes and reductions in costs can be improved in future.

There’s no effort in providing waste transfer notes, and for many waste carriers who don’t realise good waste management practice, their company name could be at stake with clients.

The Future of Transferring Waste

Moving forward into a digital world, waste transfer notes are going paperless. With over 50 million pieces of waste transfer notes in storage, the electronic format means saving money, time and space whilst meeting the legal duty of care and having easy access to view information quickly. Using a secure online database to search for documents is advantageous to both clients and waste carriers.

Will complying with the legal duty of care become more effortless for companies already avoiding the paper system? If IT skills and using the internet are not a waste carriers strongest points, then this is going to be even more challenging.

However, to remain competitive within the waste industry, waste carriers will find moving their waste data online to analyse and reduce waste disposal costs will be key to keeping client rates at a competitive rate.

For information on our fully compliant waste services please visit Protech Waste Solutions or call one of our friendly team on 0845 604 1288.