Your asbestos consignment note explained
After asbestos removal, you will receive a consignment note documenting the disposal of the waste. Many property owners file it without reading it. This guide explains what it contains, why it matters, and why you should keep it permanently alongside your other asbestos documentation.
What is a consignment note?
Asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (England and Wales). The regulations require that every movement of hazardous waste is documented — from the point of production (your property) to the point of disposal (a licensed hazardous waste facility). The document that records this movement is the consignment note.
The consignment note is not optional. A registered waste carrier cannot legally transport asbestos waste without one, and a disposal site cannot legally accept it without one. If your removal contractor cannot provide a consignment note, the waste has either not been disposed of legally or has not been disposed of at all.
The note is produced by the carrier — the company transporting the waste. You, as the waste producer, must sign it to confirm that the waste description is accurate. You should receive a copy.
What your consignment note should contain
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Consignment note number | Unique reference for tracking and audit purposes |
| Waste producer details | Name and address of the property owner or occupier where the waste was produced |
| Waste carrier details | Name, address, and Environment Agency registration number of the carrier |
| Disposal site details | Name and address of the licensed hazardous waste disposal site |
| Waste description | Type of asbestos waste (e.g., asbestos cement, AIB), quantity, and packaging |
| EWC code | European Waste Catalogue code identifying the waste type (e.g., 17 06 01* for asbestos insulation) |
| Collection date and time | When the waste was collected from the site |
| Signatures | Signed by the waste producer and the carrier to confirm the waste description is accurate |
Check before you sign: Verify that the waste description, quantity, and your details are correct before signing. An inaccurate consignment note can create problems if the documentation is ever scrutinised.
Why you should keep it permanently
Solicitors and buyers increasingly request asbestos documentation as part of the conveyancing process. A consignment note proves the waste was legally disposed of.
If you make a claim related to the property, your insurer may ask for evidence that asbestos was removed and disposed of correctly. The consignment note is that evidence.
Some local authorities require asbestos documentation as part of planning applications for renovation or demolition work. The consignment note confirms the waste has been dealt with.
If you carry out further work on the property in the future, the consignment note confirms which ACMs have already been removed and disposed of — avoiding duplication and confusion.
From our work
The sale that nearly fell through over a consignment note
A homeowner in Lewisham had sold their property and was in the final stages of conveyancing when the buyer's solicitor requested documentation for the asbestos removal that had been carried out three years earlier. The homeowner had the air clearance certificate but could not find the consignment note.
The buyer's solicitor would not proceed without it. The original removal contractor had since ceased trading, and there was no way to obtain a duplicate from them. The homeowner contacted us to ask whether we could help.
We were not the original contractor, so we could not produce the note. We advised the homeowner to contact the Environment Agency, which holds records of hazardous waste movements, and to ask the disposal site whether they retained records. The disposal site was able to provide a confirmation letter — not a formal consignment note, but sufficient for the solicitor to proceed.
The sale completed, but the process added two weeks and significant stress. The lesson: keep your consignment note permanently, in the same file as your survey report and clearance certificate. It is a small piece of paper that can become very important.
Frequently asked questions
Full documentation included with every job
Survey report, clearance certificate, and consignment note — all produced and provided as standard.