What records should a garden clearance firm keep for waste disposal?
Checked against official sources, October 2026. This guide uses England as its example. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
Keep signed waste transfer notes for two years, plus a simple log of where each load went. Together they show you took waste to a permitted site.
A simple log
Date, customer, what was taken, how much, where it went and the receipt number. One line per load is enough.
Tipping receipts
Keep weighbridge tickets or site receipts with the transfer note for that job.
Waste hierarchy
Prevent, reuse, recycle, recover, and only then dispose. For garden waste that usually means composting or green waste processing rather than landfill.
Where to keep it
A folder or a shared drive, labelled by month. The Ready Set Comply UK pack includes a disposal log and a yearly calendar to keep you on track.
Working outside England?
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own regulator, fees and penalties. See Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, or working across borders.
More guides
- How to register as a waste carrier
- Working across borders
- Do I need a waste carrier licence to clear gardens?
- Waste transfer notes for garden clearance
- How much does waste carrier registration cost?
- The fine for carrying waste without registration
- Council rules for garden clearance in England
- If the council asks for your paperwork
General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules on gov.uk. Disclaimer.