Waste and recyclables are some of the most closely regulated cargo leaving the UK. The shipping itself is straightforward. Doing it legally depends on classifying the waste correctly, knowing what the destination country allows and having the right documents with every container. Get it wrong and a shipment can be stopped at the port, returned at your cost or, in serious cases, prosecuted.
Types of waste we export
| Material | Typical examples | Usual control | Typical container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovered paper and cardboard | OCC (old corrugated cardboard), mixed paper, news and pams, sorted office paper | Usually green list (B3020) to OECD countries; check controls for non-OECD destinations | 40ft high cube, baled |
| Plastics | Clean, sorted single-polymer PET, HDPE, LDPE film, PP | Clean, sorted plastics (B3011) can often move as green list to OECD countries; mixed or contaminated plastics need prior notification; non-OECD destinations are tightly controlled | 40ft high cube, baled |
| Ferrous scrap | HMS 1 and 2, shredded steel, cast iron | Usually green list (B1010) | 20ft, often heavy loads |
| Non-ferrous scrap | Copper, aluminium, brass, stainless steel, cables | Usually green list (B1010, B1115 for some cable) | 20ft or 40ft |
| Tyres | Whole end-of-life tyres, baled tyres, shred and crumb | Green list (B3140) for some uses; tighter controls and checks for others | 40ft high cube |
| Textiles | Post-consumer textiles, rags, sorted clothing | Usually green list (B3030); sorted clothing for reuse may not be waste | 40ft high cube, baled |
| Glass | Glass cullet | Usually green list (B2020) | 20ft |
| Wood | Clean waste wood and wood chip | Usually green list (B3050) | 40ft high cube |
| Refuse-derived fuel (RDF / SRF) | Baled, wrapped combustible waste for energy recovery | Prior notification and consent | 40ft, wrapped bales |
| WEEE, batteries and hazardous waste | Electronic waste, lead-acid and lithium batteries | Usually hazardous: notification required, and banned to non-OECD countries | Case by case |
A general guide only. The correct classification depends on the exact material, its contamination level, the destination and any transit countries. The exporter is responsible for getting it right, so take advice if you're unsure.
Green list or notification?
Green list waste (Annex VII)
Non-hazardous, properly sorted waste going for recovery, such as clean paper, metal scrap or textiles, can usually be exported under the 'green list' controls. Each shipment needs:
- A fully completed and signed Annex VII form that travels with the waste
- A written contract with the receiving facility, including what happens if the shipment can't be completed
- Confirmation that the destination and any transit countries accept that waste under green list controls
- Copies of everything kept for at least three years
Since 1 July 2026, businesses in England exporting waste under green list controls must also register with the Environment Agency and answer its information requests, including evidence that the destination sites can lawfully receive and recover the waste.
Notified waste (amber list)
Hazardous waste, mixed or contaminated waste and refuse-derived fuel generally need prior written notification and consent from the regulators in every country involved before anything ships. In England that's made through the Environment Agency's International Waste Shipments service, and it needs a financial guarantee, insurance, a contract with the receiving facility and the regulator's fee. Consents usually last up to 12 months, and each movement must be pre-notified.
Banned exports
Exporting waste for disposal is generally banned. Hazardous waste and household waste can't be exported to non-OECD countries. The UK government has said it intends to ban plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries. That isn't in force yet, but those exports are already tightly controlled and many need notification.
Destination rules matter as much as UK rules
Every importing country sets its own rules, and they change often. Some only accept certain materials, some need import licences or registered importers, and some need a pre-shipment inspection certificate for scrap and recovered materials. Several Asian countries and Turkey have tightened or restricted plastic waste imports in recent years. We check the current requirements for your destination before we book.
Shipping lines and waste cargo
Not every shipping line carries waste on every trade, and some refuse certain materials, such as plastics, altogether. Waste must be declared as waste when it's booked, and lines may ask to see the Annex VII form or the consent before they confirm. Some add scrap or waste surcharges. A rolled booking matters more than usual too, because a delay can push a shipment outside a time-limited consent, so we book with lines that are reliable on your trade.
Waste exports by road to Europe
Not all waste exports go by sea. Baled plastics, paper and metals often travel to recyclers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and elsewhere in Europe by road, on curtainsiders or unaccompanied trailers. The same waste rules apply, plus the usual UK–EU customs steps, such as the export declaration and a GVMS reference for the crossing.
- Classification
- Clean, single-polymer film, confirmed as green list for this destination
- Paperwork
- A contract with the recycler, an Annex VII form for each load and an export declaration
- Transport
- Curtainsider on an unaccompanied ferry crossing
- Each week
- Collection booked, Annex VII issued, GMR created, load delivered
- Records
- Annex VII copies and weighbridge tickets kept for three years
An illustrative outline. Plastics need a classification check for every new material and destination.
Rule changes to watch
- EU plastic waste exports: the EU bans exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries from 21 November 2026, with wider limits on its waste exports to non-OECD countries from May 2027. These rules cover waste leaving the EU, but they affect cross-trade and buyers in EU markets.
- UK plastic waste: exports to non-OECD countries are tightly controlled, and the government has said it intends to ban them. We check the current position for every plastics booking.
- England green list registration: from 1 July 2026, green list exporters must register with the Environment Agency and answer its information requests.
- Destination countries: many add their own licences, pre-shipment inspections or quotas, and these change often.
How a waste export shipment works
- Material and destination: you tell us the material, its classification and codes, the quantity, the receiving facility and the destination country.
- Compliance check: we confirm the control that applies, the documents needed and any destination requirements such as inspections or licences.
- Carrier booking: not every shipping line accepts waste or scrap, so we book space with carriers that do, on the right equipment.
- Empties and loading: we deliver empty containers to your site for live loading, or drop them for you to load in your own time.
- Weights and documents: we confirm the verified gross mass (VGM), check the Annex VII or movement document and lodge the UK export declaration.
- Shipping and arrival: we track each container to destination and give you automated updates, plus proof of delivery for your records.
Loading and container tips
- Watch the weight. Dense materials such as scrap metal, glass and tyre crumb reach UK road limits long before a container is full. Plan each load to the legal weight, not the volume.
- Keep bales dry and clean. Wet or contaminated paper and plastic bales can be rejected at destination, and contamination can change the waste's classification.
- Secure the load. Bales must be stowed and secured so they can't shift. Damaged containers are charged back to the shipper.
- Photograph every load. Photos of the material and the loaded container help if a shipment is ever queried.
- Declare it accurately. Waste must be declared to the carrier and to customs as what it really is. Mis-declaration risks penalties and refusals.
Commodity codes for common exports
| Material | Customs heading (HS) |
|---|---|
| Recovered paper and paperboard | 4707 |
| Plastic waste, parings and scrap | 3915 |
| Ferrous waste and scrap | 7204 |
| Copper waste and scrap | 7404 |
| Aluminium waste and scrap | 7602 |
| Used pneumatic tyres | 4012 |
| Glass cullet | 7001 |
| Worn clothing and used textiles | 6309 / 6310 |
Headings only. The full commodity code depends on the exact material. This is separate from the waste classification codes (such as B3020 or EWC codes) used on Annex VII and notification documents.
Digital waste tracking is coming
The UK is moving waste records onto a mandatory digital waste tracking service. Receiving sites in England and Wales came first, from 1 October 2026, and carriers, brokers and dealers are expected to follow in later phases. If you produce, broker or export waste, expect more of your records to move online over the next year or two.
Who we work with
Waste producers, recycling businesses, materials recovery facilities, scrap metal merchants, tyre recyclers and registered brokers and dealers. Whether it's one container or a regular programme, we'll plan the haulage, shipping and paperwork with you.
Written by the 365 Freight team · Last reviewed . Rates, rules and schedules change, so we'll confirm the details for your shipment when we quote.