What Happens to Your Rubbish After Collection? | Litta
What actually happens to your rubbish after Litta collects it?
Most people stop thinking about their rubbish once the van pulls away. But your responsibility for it doesn't end at your front door. If it's dumped in a lay-by later, you could be the one who gets fined.
Here's what happens to your rubbish after a Litta collection, the proof you get, and how to check any collector before you hand anything over.
Before the van arrives
When you book, you tell us what's going. It isn't only for the quote. Different items have to go to different places, so knowing what's in the load means we can send it to a site that's permitted to take it.
Certain items require advance notice when booking. Fridges and freezers are a good example, as they can contain hazardous substances in both their cooling systems and insulating foam. These compounds have to be safely extracted and managed prior to recycling or disposal.
On collection day
Your driver is a registered waste carrier from our approved partner network. They photograph your waste before loading and the cleared space afterwards. Those photos go into your job record - so you can see before and after photos for your collection.
Your Waste Transfer Note
Every Litta collection comes with a digital Waste Transfer Note (WTN), with the carrier’s registration number included. It records what was collected, where it came from and who took it.
It might look like admin, but it's your proof that you handed your waste to the right people. Keep it.
Where it goes next
Most loads go to a permitted waste transfer station first. There, the waste is sorted and sent on for reuse, recycling or energy recovery. Landfill is the last resort. We explain that journey in Where your household waste goes after collection. Across our collections, up to 97% of waste is kept out of landfill.
Why the paperwork protects you
Under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, householders have a duty to take all reasonable measures to make sure they only transfer their household waste to an authorised person. In England, the maximum fixed penalty for household waste duty of care offences was raised to £600 from 31 July 2023.
This happens to real people. In February 2026, a Trowbridge resident was fined £600 after their waste was found fly-tipped near Cherhill, Wiltshire. They hadn't checked the collector was registered, noted the vehicle details or got a Waste Transfer Note.
The problem is growing. According to this research, councils in England recorded 1.26 million fly-tipping incidents between April 2024 and March 2025, a 9% rise on the previous year, and 62% of them involved household waste.
Check any collector in two minutes
- Ask for their waste carrier registration number. Then search for it on the Environment Agency's public register. It covers people and businesses registered as waste carriers, brokers or dealers.
- Get a Waste Transfer Note
- Note the van's registration
- Be wary of cheap deals on social media. Councils warn that many unregistered collectors advertise there and often dump waste illegally to avoid fees.
If someone can't give you a registration number, don't hand anything over.
With Litta, the registration number, photos and WTN are included in every booking, so you don't have to chase for them.
FAQs
Do I get a Waste Transfer Note with every Litta collection?
Yes. Every collection comes with a digital WTN and before-and-after photos.
Does my rubbish go to landfill?
Only as a last resort. Across our collections, up to 92% of waste is kept out of landfill.
Can I be fined if someone else fly-tips my rubbish?
Yes. In England, your council can issue a fixed penalty of up to £600 if you didn't take reasonable steps to check the collector.
How do I check a waste carrier is registered?
Search their name or registration number on the Environment Agency's public register.