What must be on a waste transfer note?
A description of the waste with its six digit European Waste Catalogue code, how much there is, what it is in, when and where it changed hands, both firms' names and addresses, and the carrier's registration number.
| Field | Common mistake |
|---|---|
| Waste description and EWC code | Left blank, or "general waste" with no code |
| Quantity | A guess with no unit |
| Container type | Omitted entirely |
| Time and place of transfer | Date only, no place |
| Both names and addresses | Trading name with no address |
| Carrier registration number | Expired, or the wrong tier |
The code is the bit most often left blank or guessed. A description that says "general waste" with no code is the one an officer stops on, because it is exactly what somebody writes when they do not know what is in the load.
Quantity and container type matter for the same reason. Two skips and a tonne bag is a real answer. A tick in a box is not.
Both parties sign. The note records a handover, so a copy signed by only one end has not recorded anything.
Keep it legible. A note that cannot be read is a note that cannot be produced, and from October the site at the other end is typing its version of the same movement into a national system.
Related
Written by the HaulageBoard team. Last updated 29 August 2026.