What is a waste transfer note?
Simply put, a waste transfer note is an official way of tracking where commercial waste is coming from and where it is going to (within a year). It’s part of the Waste Duty of Care legislation, which ensures waste is handled in a way that does not harm the environment or human health.

Do I need to fill out a waste transfer note?
If you intend to collect waste at commercial premises, then you must fill out a waste transfer note. A commercial premises is a property that is considered as a business location, such as a shop, school, charity or church.

Please note that you do not need to provide a waste transfer note if:

• You are registered as a public drop-off location or a private collector, and you collect waste in a non-commercial premises (such as your home)
• You are taking waste to public drop-off locations set up by other TerraCycle® collectors

Why do I need to fill out a waste transfer note?
Providing a waste transfer note proves your compliance with the Waste Duty of Care legislation. As an environmental business working in the waste management sector, we want to ensure that we, along with the people using our service, meet the highest of environmental standards, including the full traceability of collected waste.

How often do I need to fill out a waste transfer note?
You just need to fill out one waste transfer note per commercial premises, per year, selecting all the programmes you collect waste for at the location. If you join any new programmes during the year and you’re collecting the waste at a commercial premises (either privately or as a public drop-off location), you will need to submit a new form. This applies even if you have already completed one for that location.

I’m struggling to fill out my waste transfer note. Can you help?
Of course! Check out our handy guide which takes you through the process step-by-step. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact our Customer Support team and we’ll be more than happy to assist you.

What is a SIC code (2007), and how do I find mine?
A SIC code is the ‘Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities’ of the commercial premises where you collect waste. The 2007 version of this code is the most recent version and is 5 digits long. These codes are intended to help classify businesses according to their type of economic activity.

You can easily find the correct SIC code by searching for the commercial premises where you collect waste, by name, on the Companies House website. Once you’ve found your location, click through to view the company information and look for ‘Nature of Business’ (SIC).

If your commercial premises is part of a larger company, for example a supermarket that has multiple locations, simply search for the name of the group/corporation and use that SIC code - it doesn’t need to be for that one location.

In some cases, one or more SIC codes can be attributed to a business. If this applies to your location, just choose one SIC code to fill out your waste transfer note form.

Common 2007 SIC codes that might apply to your location:
88990 - charities
47100 - retail in non-specialised shops
47200 - retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised shops (supermarkets)
94910 - activities of religious organisations (churches)
85100 - pre-primary education (nurseries)
85200 - primary education
85300 - secondary education
85400 - higher education
47730 - dispensing chemist in specialised stores
47782 - retail sale by opticians

What will happen to shipments sent before my waste transfer note is submitted?
This is something we’re asking collectors to complete from January 2021 to ensure that all commercial waste sent to us is traceable. Shipments sent before, or due to arrive just after notification of this policy, will still be accepted and won’t cause any issues.

However, we ask that going forward, you make sure that you have filled out a waste transfer note before sending the first shipments of waste for the programme(s) you are a member of. By filling out a waste transfer note for your location(s) at the start of the year, you will ensure you’re covered for all the programmes you select on the form.

What information do I legally need to provide?
To make the process as easy as possible, we’ve filled out most of the form for you. All you need to do is enter your collection location’s details (if in a commercial premises) and tell us the waste you will collect there this year. If you get stuck, please use our handy step-by-step guide.

Where can I access the waste transfer note?
You can access the waste transfer note through your TerraCycle® account. Navigate to: My Account > My Posters and Guides. Here you will find the ‘Waste Duty of Care’ document and our guide on ‘How To Fill Out A Waste Transfer Note’ both of which link to the waste transfer note. Alternatively, you can access it directly through this link.

What happens if I don’t fill this out?
We’re confident we have provided the best tools to make it as easy as possible to complete a waste transfer note, allowing you to prove compliance with the Waste Duty of Care legislation. However, in the event that you and the commercial premises you collect waste at are subject to an audit by organisations such as the Environment Agency, you could be prosecuted if you are unable to provide this documentation. With this in mind, please store a copy of your waste transfer note(s) for safekeeping for two years.

Whilst the documents have been available on our website for some time, we would really like to emphasise the importance of complying with the Waste Duty of Care legislation. If you would like assistance with filling out the waste transfer note, please take a look at our step-by-step guide or contact our Customer Support team.

How did TerraCycle® calculate the estimated weight?
We have filled this information based on an average of collection weights across all our recycling programmes. By doing this, we hope to make this process as easy as possible for our collectors. If your shipments weigh more or less than this estimate, please do not worry.

Do I need to submit a waste transfer note for every shipment?
No, one waste transfer note covers you for all the programmes you have listed on that form, for a whole year. Therefore, please fill out a waste transfer note as soon as possible so your shipments are covered.

What if I join a new programme?
If you fill out a waste transfer note in January and select all the programmes you collect waste for, then join another programme later in the year (for which you intend to collect waste in a commercial premises), you will need to fill out a new form for the new programme.

To help you remember this, we’ve included a reminder on our shipping labels so you’ll be prompted whenever you download a new one. Of course, once you have completed this for all programmes you are a member of, you can ignore this message!

Where can I access a copy of my signed waste transfer note?
Once you’ve submitted your waste transfer note, a copy will automatically be sent to the email you used to receive the HelloSign form. You should keep this for your own records for two years. If at any time you need to access your waste transfer note, but cannot find it, please contact our Customer Support team who will be happy to help source a copy for you.

 I’ve filled in a waste transfer note, but I haven’t sent any shipments in a while. Am I still covered?
As long as you fill out a waste transfer note per location (if in a commercial premises) per year, detailing all the programmes you collect for, you will be covered for those programmes, even if you don’t send shipments very often.

What happens if I don’t send any shipments for a programme I have ticked on the form?
If you do not send any shipments for a programme you have ticked, there is no need to worry at all. Filling out the form just means that if you do send any shipments in, you’re covered and compliant with the Waste Duty of Care legislation.