New laws introduce identity and criminal records when applying for a waste carrier licence.
The legislation, which is being laid in Parliament this week, was announced last year but comes after a recent high-profile stunt where a cow called Beau Vine was approved for a waste carrier license in seconds.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) called the current system ‘broken and outdated’ and said it is being exploited by waste criminals.
The new permit-based system will come into force in 2027 and require waste handlers to undergo identity and criminal record checks before receiving a permit.
Operators will also be required to demonstrate they are technically competent and display their permit number in advertising, including on vehicles.
Anyone caught mishandling waste will also now face up to five years in prison.
Waste Minister Mary Creagh commented: “Waste cowboys have abused the system for too long, blighting our countryside and cities alike.”
“Through our Waste Crime Action Plan, we’re introducing rigorous background checks for waste traders, shutting down corrupt operators and kicking them out of the industry for good.”
The existing system came under scrutiny earlier this year when Ann Maidment, the director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) South West, applied for a waste carrier licence for her cow, Beau Vine.
Reacting to the new laws, Maidment said, “It should not have taken a cow getting approved to expose the problem, but it did help make the case for change. The priority now is making sure these reforms punish the criminals, not the compliant.”
“But good law depends on good implementation. The new permit system must be tough on rogue operators without placing needless cost, delay or bureaucracy on farmers and small rural businesses already doing the right thing.”
Maidment previously commented that while Beau Vine excels at ‘eating grass, lounging in the sun and a leisurely moo’, waste management is beyond his remit.
As part of the government’s reforms, the terminology is set to change from waste carriers, brokers and dealers (CBD) to ‘waste controllers’ and ‘waste transporters’.
There will be three permit types: waste controller only, waste transporter only, and a combined waste controller-transporter permit.
Defra is also introducing mandatory technical competence for permit holders and any nominated persons within a business.
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management’s (CIWM) Dan Cooke welcomed the ‘significant steps’ as part of the government’s wider Waste Crime Action Plan.
“It’s good to see these strong and practical measures being implemented to target cowboys and crooks operating at the fringes of our sector,” Cooke said.
“CIWM and the UK’s professional resources and waste sector have been calling for this loophole to be closed for some time, so kudos to the government and regulators for committing to this positive change.”
