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Special Waste

In Scotland, any waste with hazardous properties which could harm human health, or the environment is called "Special Waste". The procedures for disposing of, carrying, and receiving special waste are set out in the Special Waste Regulations 1996. These regulations are the principal piece of legislation covering special waste arising in Scotland.

All special waste produced in Scotland must be consigned using a special waste consignment note (SWCN) bearing a unique SEPA-issued code, regardless of its destination within the UK. Information on how we regulate and if these regulations apply to you can be found at the bottom of the page.

Special Waste Consignment Notes (SWCN)

SEPA is updating the format and process for submitting consignment notes. In addition, PDF formats, there is now an Excel version which is our preferred format. We are also requesting all SWCNs to be submitted electronically to SWCN returns, until further notice.

This move to digital notes is a step towards a UK-wide digital waste tracking (DWT) service. For more details about DWT, subscribe to the monthly newsletter or join the user panel.

SEPA’s excel and PDF SWCNs are available below for download and use. You may also choose to design your own note or use one from another source, but we advise you email SWCN enquiries first.

Regardless of what format you use, all notes must contain the information detailed in Schedule 1 of The Special Waste Regulations 1966 and a unique code from SEPA.

For more information on how to complete SWCNs, please refer to our guidance on consigning special waste.

Paper SWCNs

SEPA plans to phase out paper SWCNs as we move towards becoming a net zero organisation by 2030. Due reduced office use, we cannot sell the remaining stock of paper SWCNs. We encourage waste holders to use digital SWCNs with a SEPA-issued unique code (SA/SB/SC). See below for purchase details.

SWCN Unique Codes

All SWCN formats must have a unique code supplied by SEPA. The code consists of two letters – SA, SB or SC – and a series of numbers, for example SA 1234567. These codes can be purchased online.

SWCN codes will be issued alongside your receipt. If you require SC codes for extended carrier rounds or landings of offshore waste, please email SWCN order.

Essential contacts

For more information on consigning special waste, or if you require more guidance on complete a SWCN, please contact SWCN enquiries. If you are:

  • Submitting pre-notifications (see guidance for when this is applicable or required) contact SWCN
  • Sending completed copies of SWCN and carrier schedules contact SWCN returns
  • Enquiring about purchasing or obtaining SWCN codes (including if you are unable to purchase SA/SB codes online) contact SWCN orders

When exporting special (hazardous) waste to England, Wales or Northern Ireland for treatment, disposal or recovery, the consignee who receives the waste is required to send a copy of the completed deposit note to SEPA.

Producers in England, Wales or Northern Ireland should use the paperwork for their own country, completed in accordance with the relevant domestic legislation.

You do not need to register as a producer of special (hazardous) waste in Scotland.

Any movement of special waste – known as a consignment – is subject to regulation and must be monitored by its producer, consignor, carrier and consignee.

If you produce, collect, transport or dispose of special waste, you must comply with the regulations. Our guidance on consigning special waste (pdf 783kB) explains operators’ obligations in more detail.

Do not use Landfill Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) analysis for waste classification and hazardous waste assessment. It is only for landfill acceptance and does not determine if waste is hazardous or non-hazardous.

As part of your duty of care, you must classify the waste your business produces:

  • Before it is collected, disposed of, or recovered,
  • to identify the controls that apply to its movement
  • to complete waste documents and records
  • to identify authorized waste management options
  • to prevent harm to people and the environment

For detailed guidance on waste classification and assessment, refer to the Technical Guidance WM3 - Waste Classification: Guidance on the classification and assessment of waste

This guidance has been updated by SEPA in partnership with environment agencies for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Use this if you produce, manage, or regulate waste. Proper classification ensures selecting the correct code and determining if waste is hazardous or non-hazardous.