National operator waste returns
How to complete waste returns and deadlines for submission.
Applies to England
If you are an operator with an environmental permit, you must tell the Environment Agency about the waste you have received or removed from your site. This is known as a waste tonnage return.
From April 2019, if you have a permit that authorises waste activities, you must also include details about the technically competent manager at your site.
The Environment Agency uses this information to monitor compliance with environmental permit conditions and collect national statistics about waste.
Types of waste to include in your waste tonnage return
Your waste tonnage return should include the waste received and removed under your permit. This includes waste transfer and treatment processes, for example any interceptor or sealed drainage waste that is created as part of your process.
Do not include the following on your waste tonnage return:
- waste you have not formally accepted
- quarantined waste relocated to another site
- other waste which is not produced as part of your permitted activities
For canteen waste, office waste or carpark interceptor waste, follow the rules on disposing of business or commercial waste and hazardous waste.
Report the correct waste code
You must report the correct waste codes for your site. Your permit lists the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes your site can accept.
Submit your waste tonnage return on time
If you do not submit your waste tonnage return before 23:59 on the submission deadline date, you will be in breach of your permit.
Quarterly returns submission windows
| Quarter or period | Submission windows |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 March | 1 to 30 April |
| 1 April to 30 June | 1 to 31 July |
| 1 July to 30 September | 1 to 31 October |
| 1 October to 31 December | 1 to 31 January |
Yearly returns submission window
| Yearly return period | Submission window |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 December | 1 to 31 January of the following year |
Yearly returns are only for permits with annual reporting frequency.
How to complete your waste return
You must download and use the waste tonnage return form to submit your waste return.
You must use this form for submitting waste tonnage returns, including:
- current period submissions
- late returns
- resubmissions
- returns for older reporting periods
As of April 2026, the Environment Agency will only accept version 17.0 of the waste tonnage return form. If you do not submit your waste returns using the correct form, you may be in breach of your permit.
How to submit the waste tonnage return form
You must:
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Download the waste tonnage return form to your device.
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Complete and save the form in the original Excel file format to your device.
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Attach the completed Excel form to an email and send it to national-operator-returns@environment-agency.gov.uk.
You need to use Microsoft Excel to complete the form. The form will not work correctly if you use Google Sheets or Apple Numbers to complete the form. The Environment Agency does not accept other file formats.
You must submit a return for each reporting period unless your permit has been fully surrendered. A ‘Nil return’ will be automatically generated within the form if no tonnage is received or removed.
For full instructions on how to complete the form, see the ‘How to fill in this form’ page within the downloaded form. This includes:
- step by step guidance
- accepted and rejected file formats
- how to use and manage the dropdown lists
- mandatory field requirements
- how built‑in validation checks will check the form is complete and correct before submission
If you need help or an alternative format
Contact the Environment Agency if you:
- have any issues with the form
- need advice
- need an alternative format
Call 03708 506 506 (see call charges) or email national-operator-returns@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Updated to clarify what waste operators must report, when returns must be submitted and how to use the correct EWC codes. The guidance now includes clearer submission windows, updated instructions for downloading, completing and emailing the form, and new requirements to use Version 17.0 of the waste tonnage return form.
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Added information on types of waste to include in your waste return. Removed reference to the waste returns GOR spreadsheet, as it has been withdrawn.
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We have removed the section on waste conversion factors and replaced it with a section on how to report the correct waste codes for your site.
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Removed the section Waste values picklist as this is duplicated within the actual returns spreadsheets.
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Removed the section for Material Facilities (MF) returns. Some waste operators have been submitting MF returns by mistake. We contact MF direct for their returns.
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Added a link to the waste returns privacy notice and to the list of disposal and recovery codes.
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Removed the disposal and recovery flowchart as it’s out of date. You can email us to request guidance on codes.
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First published.