Every movement of hazardous waste in England and Wales requires a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note (HWCN). WasteBolt lets you create, complete, and store these digitally — keeping you compliant without the paperwork. This guide covers the six parts of an HWCN, consignment numbers, and how to create one in WasteBolt under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (England & Wales).

What is a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note?

A Hazardous Waste Consignment Note (HWCN) is a legal document that must accompany every consignment of hazardous waste from the point it leaves the premises. It records who produced the waste, who carried it, and where it is going for treatment or disposal.

When is it required? Any site in England or Wales producing, carrying, or receiving hazardous waste must use a consignment note. This applies to all waste classified as hazardous under the List of Wastes (England) Regulations — including oils, solvents, batteries, asbestos, and clinical waste.

Unlike a standard Waste Transfer Note (used for non-hazardous waste), the HWCN is more detailed and must be retained by all parties for at least 3 years.

The Six Parts of a Consignment Note

The standard HWCN is structured into six parts (A–F), each completed by a different party in the waste chain:

Part Completed by Covers
A Consignor (waste producer) Consignment number, premises address, quantity, waste description, EWC code, physical form
B Waste carrier Carrier name, licence number, vehicle registration, date of collection, signature
C Consignor (waste producer) Declaration that the information is accurate and the waste is correctly described and packaged
D Consignee (receiving site) Confirmation that the waste arrived in the stated quantity and condition
E Consignee (receiving site) Confirmation of how the waste was managed — recycled, treated, or disposed of
F Consignee (if applicable) Used only if the consignee rejects the waste. Records reason for rejection and next steps

Creating a Consignment Note in WasteBolt

A consignment note is created the same way as a standard WTN — through Gate → Log New Transfer. Tick Is Hazardous in the Waste Details section and WasteBolt treats the record as a consignment note, generating a unique consignment number automatically — you do not need to create one yourself.

Step 1: Open Gate → Log New Transfer

From the app, go to Gate, then + Log New Transfer.

Step 2: Fill in Load Details, Producer, Carrier and Consignee (Parts A & B)

These are the same fields used on a standard WTN. WasteBolt can pull carrier and consignee details from your Customer pick list, including the Environment Agency registration number — a legal requirement for Part B.

Step 3: Complete the Waste Details and tick “Is Hazardous”

Fill in the details for the waste being moved:

  • EWC code — the European Waste Catalogue code for your waste type
  • Waste description — a clear, accurate description of what the waste is
  • Physical form — solid, liquid, sludge, gas, or mixed
  • Quantity — estimated weight or volume
  • Container type and number — e.g. 2 x 200L drums

Then tick Is Hazardous and add the Hazardous Components (identification method and any hazardous or POPs substances present) — this is what tells WasteBolt to treat the record as a consignment note rather than a standard WTN. See Setting Up Your Waste Types Pick List to save these details against a reusable waste type instead of re-entering them every time.

Step 4: Log Load, then review in Flagged For Review

Logging the load sends it to Flagged For Review — the same staging queue used for WTNs. Nothing is sent to the Environment Agency until you review and approve it there.

Step 5: Sign the consignor declaration (Part C)

The consignor (your site) confirms that the waste is accurately described and properly packaged for transport. In WasteBolt, this is a digital declaration checkbox — no wet signature required.

Step 6: Send to the carrier and consignee

Once Parts A–C are complete, share the note with your carrier and the receiving site. WasteBolt lets you export as a PDF or share a link directly. The carrier completes Part B on collection; the consignee completes Parts D and E on receipt.

Step 7: Save and store

WasteBolt stores your completed consignment note securely. You — and all parties — are legally required to keep copies for at least 3 years.

Consignment Numbers Explained

Each consignment note must have a unique consignment number. WasteBolt generates these automatically using the standard format:

A1234567 / 2026 / 001

Where A1234567 is your EA premises code, 2026 is the calendar year, and 001 is the sequential number for that year. WasteBolt manages the sequence for you.

Digital Waste Tracking (DWT)

Once approved in Flagged For Review, a completed consignment note is ready to submit as part of your Digital Waste Tracking submissions — the same DWT pipeline used for standard WTNs. See the DWT Setup Guide to get direct EA submission set up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pre-notify the Environment Agency?

Pre-notification is required if you are producing, carrying, or receiving hazardous waste from a premises that produces more than 500kg of hazardous waste per year. For most registered producers, notification is done through the EA’s Hazardous Waste Registration system before collection — WasteBolt records the consignment but does not submit pre-notifications on your behalf at this time.

Is a digital signature acceptable?

Yes. The Environment Agency accepts digital records and electronic declarations provided they are clearly attributable to the signing party and a complete audit trail is maintained. WasteBolt’s digital signature system meets this requirement.

What is the difference between a WTN and a Consignment Note?

A Waste Transfer Note (WTN) is used for non-hazardous waste. A Hazardous Waste Consignment Note is required for any waste classified as hazardous under the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. The HWCN includes more detail — particularly around EWC codes and hazard properties — and has stricter retention requirements.

How long must I keep consignment notes?

All parties must retain their copy of a consignment note (and any rejection note) for at least 3 years. WasteBolt stores these for you indefinitely.

What if the consignee rejects the waste?

If the consignee refuses the load, Part F of the consignment note must be completed, recording the reason and what happens to the waste next (e.g. returned to producer or redirected to an alternative site). Document this in WasteBolt under the original consignment note record.

What’s Next