SIC codes on waste transfer notes: what they are and how to find yours

Every waste transfer note has a mandatory field for the transferor's SIC code — and it's not optional. Here is what the code is, whose code goes where in the waste chain, the most common codes for waste businesses, and how to find yours if you are unsure.

What is a SIC code on a waste transfer note?

The SIC code system is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as UK SIC 2007 and covers all industry sectors with five-digit codes. For waste businesses, the relevant codes sit in Section E (water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities), Division 38. Each code identifies what type of business produced or is moving the waste, giving regulators a quick check on whether the transferor is the kind of business that generates or handles that waste.

The SIC code requirement was introduced by the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 and applies to all controlled waste transfer notes in England and Wales, whether paper or digital.

Whose SIC code goes on a waste transfer note?

In a typical waste movement there are at least two transfers, each with its own note:

• →Producer to carrier: the business that produced the waste is the transferor. Their SIC code — reflecting their own industry, such as construction or retail — goes on this note.
• →Carrier to disposal or treatment site: the carrier is now the transferor. Their SIC code (typically 38110 or 38120) goes on this second note.

The SIC code on a waste transfer note must be the transferor's code — the party handing the waste over at that stage — as required by Regulation 35 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.

What SIC code should waste carriers and skip-hire companies use?

These are the codes for businesses whose primary activity is collecting and transporting waste. The full set of codes covering waste operations under UK SIC 2007 is:

I am not a waste company — which SIC code goes on my transfer note?

When a business produces waste as a by-product of its main activity, its SIC code reflects that main activity. A building contractor, for example, would use a construction SIC code (such as 41100 for development of building projects, or 43120 for site preparation). The waste codes in Division 38 are for businesses whose primary business is waste management.

This is the most common source of confusion when filling out a waste transfer note for the first time. If you are a waste producer rather than a waste business, look up your own sector's SIC code — not 38110.

How do I find my SIC code?

• →Companies House registered businesses: your SIC code is shown on your company's page at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Use the Companies House SIC tool at resources.companieshouse.gov.uk/sic/ to search for the right code.
• →ONS SIC 2007 index: the Office for National Statistics publishes the full classification hierarchy and a searchable index at ons.gov.uk. This is the authoritative source referenced by the Waste Regulations 2011.
• →Sole traders with no Companies House registration: use the ONS index to find the code that best describes your primary business activity. You can also check how similar businesses registered at Companies House have described their activities.

The SIC code on your transfer notes should be consistent with the code registered for your business. Transfer notes must be kept for at least two years and produced to the Environment Agency or a waste collection authority on request.

This guide is general information about waste transfer note requirements and is not legal advice. Always verify your obligations against the primary legislation and, if in doubt, contact the Environment Agency or your environmental regulator.