Defra to replace waste carrier, broker and dealer registration with environmental permits
WAste operators must pass assessments and training requirements under new permit system with enhanced enforcement powers given to the EA
The government will replace the existing waste carrier, broker and dealer (CBD) registration system with environmental permits under planned reforms set out by Defra.
This aims to ‘simplify the current terminology around waste carriers, brokers and dealers to waste controllers and waste transporters’ and assign legal responsibility to these roles.
The new system establishes three permit categories - waste controllers, waste transporters, and combined operations - with mandatory technical competence requirements for all permit holders. Existing operators on three-year registrations will transition when their current permits expire, while those holding lifetime registrations have 12 months to apply for permits or register exemptions.
Notably, as part of the shake-up, the Environment Agency will gain enhanced enforcement powers including suspension and revocation, replacing the current system's reliance on criminal prosecution. Defra says that 'bringing waste transporters and controllers into the Environmental Permitting Regulations provides a robust enforcement framework, allowing the regulator greater flexibility compared to the existing CBD regime'.
The new system will operate under four risk-based tiers with proportionate charging, scaling from small-volume, low-risk operations to large-scale operators handling hazardous materials.
The transition addresses widespread non-compliance that enables criminal exploitation costing an estimated £1.1 billion annually in waste crime. Defra notes that 'the current system of registration for waste carriers, brokers and dealers makes it hard for regulators to target high-risk waste operators properly'. The latest National Waste Crime survey estimates that up to 20 per cent of all waste in England is illegally managed.
Technical competence becomes mandatory
All permit holders and nominated personnel must demonstrate competence through individual assessment or workplace-based qualification schemes. The policy paper states that 'where the individual assessment route is followed, the permit holder and any additional nominated persons would take a remote e-learning course before sitting an in-person test at a test centre', adapted from current site permit requirements for mobile operations.
This targets knowledge gaps that enable waste misclassification and illegal disposal, ensuring operators understand legal obligations regarding waste classification, record-keeping, and safe disposal. This professionalising of the sector aims to create a level playing field where legitimate businesses are no longer undercut by rogue operators.
The policy confirms that 'anyone applying for a permit in the first year of the system going live will only be required to enter proof of their technical competence within one year of that go-live date'. Workplace competence schemes provide alternatives for larger businesses with organisation-wide training systems and internal management controls.
Digital integration
Permit numbers must be displayed on advertising and vehicles as standard conditions, enabling to check the operator is legitimate. This directly addresses unregistered operators advertising services, making it significantly easier for householders and businesses to check the public register and fulfil their Duty of Care. It is anticipated that this system will integrate with digital waste tracking, scheduled to start next April, creating real-time audit trails.
Digital tracking replaces paper-based systems that criminals exploit through mis-description and documentation fraud. According to Environment Agency data, current paper systems affect 27 per cent of operators, allowing hazardous or restricted waste to be disguised as general materials.
Fly-tipping incidents reached 1.15 million in 2023/24, representing a six per cent increase and £13.1 million in local authority cleanup costs. The West Midlands leads with 2,008 suspected waste crime reports, followed by Yorkshire with 1,791 incidents.
Three-year permits require active renewal rather than current lifetime lower-tier registrations, creating regular compliance checkpoints. The policy confirms 'renewals will be undertaken at a frequency of every three years'. Enhanced enforcement includes fixed penalty notices alongside permit suspension powers, providing immediate consequences for regulatory violations.
The consultation received 426 responses with 73 per cent supporting the transition to Environmental Permitting Regulations. Implementation costs include an estimated £44 million total transition expense for existing businesses, offset by substantial savings from reduced waste crime.
