Rejecting hazardous waste loads

This guidance explains the rules for the consignee, carrier, producer and holder on rejecting hazardous waste.

Check the waste and consignment note before you accept it

You must check both the waste and the consignment note before accepting it.

You must decide whether to accept or reject the waste before you complete Part E of the consignment note. Once signed as accepted, you cannot later reject the waste.

Rejecting a load with a consignment note

Follow 4 steps to reject waste with a consignment note. 

1. Complete Part E of the consignment note and record what is rejected and why
2. Keep one copy
3. Give one copy to the carrier
4. Send copies to the consignor, producer and holder as soon as reasonably practicable
   
   

Rejecting a load without a consignment note

Do not create a consignment note after the waste has arrived.

Follow 4 steps to reject waste without a consignment note.

1. Create a written rejection record including:

• reason for rejection
• waste description/classification, if you know it
• names of producer, holder, consignor and carrier
• a unique reference in the following format: REJECT/XXXXX

2. Keep a copy of your rejection record

3. Give a copy of the record to the carrier

4. Send copies of the record to the producer, holder, consignor as soon as reasonably practicable

Carrier responsibilities after the waste is rejected

Inform the regulator as soon reasonable practicable.

Contact the producer or holder for instructions (about what). Take reasonable steps to follow those instructions.

Producer or holder responsibilities after the waste is rejected

Your priority is to find an alternative authorised site as soon as reasonably practicable.

You can:

• send the waste to another authorised consignee
• return the waste to your own premises (typically within 5 business days
• ask the original consignee to accept it

You will need to create a new consignment.
   

Accepting previously rejected waste

You may only accept rejected waste with a missing, incomplete or inaccurate consignment note if:

• the original rejection was recorded on another consignment note
• issues have been corrected
• your permit allows it

A new, correct consignment note must be issued. You are not obliged to accept it.

How soon you must move waste

Waste must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable if it cannot be stored safely or legally

Otherwise within 5 business days.

Storage must comply with permit conditions.

Recording and reporting rejecting loads

You must record rejected loads in your consignee return.

No charge applies for rejected loads (this should be recorded clearly using the standard format recorded in the consignment note as referred to in section 2).

If later accepted, record as a separate consignment.

Rejecting part of a load

You may reject part of a load if wastes are clearly identifiable and separable.

Follow rejection procedures for rejected waste and normal procedures for accepted waste.

If wastes are mixed or cannot be linked to consignments, reject all waste.