In Scotland, anybody that wishes to store, trade in or dispose of waste must register for a Waste Management Licence through the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
There are two types of licence available – one for the static treatment of waste at a site (a broker), and one for anybody that plans to move waste between different locations (a carrier).
If you wish to apply as a carrier or a broker of waste, the charge is £225 for a waste management licence. If you wish to apply for both, the total cost is £450. If you fail to produce proof of licencing upon request, you could be fined up to £5,000 and even face up to 5 years in prison. Your licence will last for 3 years, after which it must be renewed.
Under Scottish law, the following is classed as waste and thus requires a Waste Management Licence.
- Perishable goods that have bypassed a use-by date
- Discarded or broken products that no longer perform tasks and cannot be harvested for parts
- Illegal or verboten chemicals and products
- Industrial residue
- Contaminated or soiled materials
The Scottish government is dedicated to reducing waste as much as possible, so any carrier of a Waste Management Licence must abide by the laws of the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations of 1991, the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations of 2011 and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations of 2012.
In terms of general guidance, the Scottish government has assigned the following waste disposal targets for 2025:
Reduce total waste by 15% compared to 2011
Reduce food waste by 33 compared to 2013
Recycle at 70% of remaining waste, sending a maximum of 5% to landfill sites
Working to meet these targets will keep you well within the rules of a waste management licence in Scotland.