Garden clearance and waste carrier rules in Wales
Registration details checked against official sources, October 2026. Council rules vary and change, so the answers must come from the council itself.
Register with Natural Resources Wales if your business is based in Wales, or most of your work is there. Carrying waste without being registered is a criminal offence.
It depends where the job is, not where you live
Council rules apply where the work happens. If you are based in one council and clear a garden in the next one, you need to follow the rules of the council you worked in, on top of your registration. A job that crosses an area means checking every council it touches.
Registration
Register with Natural Resources Wales if your business is based in Wales, or most of your work is there. Upper tier registration with Natural Resources Wales costs £184 for a new application and £126 to renew every three years. The lower tier is free. Carrying waste without being registered is a criminal offence. A Natural Resources Wales registration lets you carry waste anywhere in Great Britain, including England and Scotland. It does not cover Northern Ireland. Official guidance from Natural Resources Wales.
Paperwork on every job
Complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste you take from a customer and keep a signed copy for two years. Hazardous waste needs a consignment note, kept for three years.
Find your areas
- All Wales councils (22 councils)
General guidance, not legal advice. Disclaimer.