Hazardous waste: find out if and when you need to submit a return

Hazardous waste consignee returns inform Natural Resources Wales (NRW) about hazardous waste that has been received, removed or disposed of at a site.

The returns provide a detailed summary of each waste consignment and are required quarterly under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

Who needs to send a return

You are considered a "consignee" and must submit a hazardous waste consignee return if you:

  • operate a mobile service depot that receives waste produced by staff at customer sites

  • move your own hazardous waste between your business premises

  • accept returned hazardous waste from your customers

  • operate an exempt or permitted waste facility that accepts hazardous waste from others

  • operate an exempt or permitted site that rejects hazardous waste (for example, because the site was not permitted to accept it)

  • dispose of hazardous waste at the site where it was produced

What to include in your return

You need to follow the three steps for preparing, checking and submitting your hazardous waste return.

Even if you did not deal with hazardous waste in a reporting period, you must still send a return.

We have regulatory decisions (derogations) that reduce the reporting requirements for 11 hazardous streams. Find out more in consignee returns with reduced reporting and charges.

When to send a consignee return

You must report to us your activities for each 3-month period (quarter) within one month of the end of that quarter:

  • Q1: 1 January - 31 March

return submission deadline 30 April

  • Q2: 1 April - 30 June 

return submission deadline 31 July

  • Q3: 1 July - 30 September

return submission deadline 31 October

  • Q4: 1 October - 31 December

return submission deadline 31 January

Our charges for hazardous waste returns

Charges for consignee returns submitted in electronic or paper form.

Electronic form

  • Single waste consignment: £10 per consignment

  • Multiple waste consignments (single collection covering more than one consignment): £5 per consignment

  • Null returns (no consignments for the quarter): No charge

Paper form

  • Single waste consignment: £19 per consignment

  • Multiple waste consignments (single collection covering more than one consignment): £10 per consignment

  • Null returns (no consignments for the quarter): No charge

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