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Guidance

Documentation for business waste at takeback points: RPS 283

Updated 25 August 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/documentation-for-business-waste-at-takeback-points-rps-283/documentation-for-business-waste-at-take-back-points-rps-283

This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to:

  • complete waste transfer notes when you transfer your business waste to a wholesaler or retailer at a takeback point
  • complete hazardous waste consignment notes when you transfer your business waste to a wholesaler or retailer at a takeback point

However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with these legal requirements provided that:

  • your activity meets the description set out in this RPS

  • you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS

In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:

  • cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals

  • cause a nuisance through noise or odours

  • adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest

Activity this RPS applies to

This RPS applies to the transfer of business waste at a takeback point operated by a wholesaler or retailer in line with non-waste framework directive (NWFD) 4 exemption without completing either:

  • a waste transfer note
  • a hazardous consignment note

Conditions you must comply with

Businesses that deliver waste to the wholesaler or retailer

You must:

  • deposit only the waste types listed by the wholesaler or retailer as suitable for their takeback point
  • have produced the waste you are depositing at the takeback point during your business activities
  • comply with all other waste duty of care requirements
  • keep records for 3 years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request

You must not deposit waste produced by any other person or business at the takeback point.

Wholesalers and retailers

You must:

  • only take back similar waste types to the materials that you supply
  • operate a takeback service in line with NWFD 4
  • comply with waste duty of care requirements and complete waste transfer notes when non-hazardous waste is removed from your takeback point
  • comply with the hazardous waste regulations and consign all hazardous wastes when they are moved from your takeback point

You must not charge customers for taking back their waste.

Things to note

A wholesaler or retailer means:

  • a distributor supplying business customers with building supplies, electrical equipment, tools and workwear from a physical store
  • they offer a takeback scheme for waste items at that store

Mandatory digital waste tracking across the UK is being developed. The Environment Agency will review this RPS when phase 2 of digital waste tracking is being developed. See more information about:

When you must check back

The Environment Agency will review this RPS by 30 September 2027.

The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.

You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.

This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.

You can subscribe to email updates about this RPS. These will tell you if the RPS has changed and when it has been withdrawn. Use the ‘Get emails about this page’ feature on the RPS publication page.

If you cannot comply with this RPS

If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must:

Contact the Environment Agency

If you have any questions about this RPS, email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk with RPS 283 in the subject.

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