Do I Need a Waste Hauler's Permit?
Any party intending to haul solid waste (includes food waste), regulated medical waste, recyclables, or residual waste on Vermont roadways for compensation, must obtain a waste hauling permit from the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). Any person transporting regulated quantities of hazardous waste also requires a permit. Permits allow ANR to hold waste haulers accountable for practicing safe and environmentally sound transportation methods and following through with delivering the waste materials to appropriate destinations.
Note that there is no longer a “1-ton” exemption. If your business or side job is hauling waste (such as a trash: food waste or recycling “route;” trash drop; trash trailer rentals; cleanouts; septic pumping or portable toilets) you need a permit. If hauling waste is incidental to your business – such as a property manager or handyperson – you can haul loads of up to 4 cubic yards of waste (such as a pickup or small utility trailer) without a permit. Self-hauling solid waste does not require a permit because it is not for compensation – unless it is hazardous waste.
Vermont Law
10 V.S.A. § 6607a. Waste transportation
(a) A commercial hauler desiring to transport waste within the State shall apply to the Secretary for a permit to do so by submitting an application on a form prepared for this purpose by the Secretary. These permits shall have a duration of five years and shall be renewed annually. The application shall indicate the nature of the waste to be hauled. The Secretary may specify conditions that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure compliance with State law.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Commercial hauler" means:
(A) any person that transports regulated quantities of hazardous waste; and
(B) any person that transports solid waste for compensation in a vehicle.
Permits
Permits are issued as underlying 5-year permits with conditions, and are required to be renewed on an annual basis with current vehicle information. Renewals are due by May 1st every year for the upcoming July 1 – June 30th permit year.
Solid Waste Districts
Potential solid waste haulers should check with their local Solid Waste Management Entity for additional permit requirements, if any.
Do you haul to farms?
The transfer of non-sewage waste to a farm-owned operated manure pit or methane digester requires an approval from the Agency of Agriculture, Farm and Markets' Non-Sewage Waste Transfer Program before the transfer occurs. Once an approval for the waste stream is issued, haulers may begin transferring waste to listed farms up to the annual waste transfer volume specified in the approval.
How to Get a Permit
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has transitioned to a new online application system for waste haulers. ANR Online was first launched in the spring of 2020.
Read as much information as you can on this page, before you register on ANR Online.
The following information is a guide to help you determine what forms you will need, and what to select, such as: permit year, permit status on ANR Online, including valid and expiration dates, how to obtain a transporter ID number, permit/annual renewals and much more. Or, if you know the routine you can skip to ANROnline.
Before you register on ANROnline, Review/Complete the following:
- Transporter ID Number
- Before completing your New Permit Application on ANROnline waste haulers must contact us for a Transporter ID number. Email charlene.dandrea@vermont.gov or call 802-261-5171 for a new transporter ID number. The Transporter ID number is needed to start the ANR Online permitting process.
- If you already have a transporter ID number but don’t remember it, go to this List of Permitted Solid Waste Haulers and use the search box to find your company and ID number.
- Corporation or Doing Business as (DBA)
- ANR can only issue hauler permits to legal entities, such as active corporations (Inc. or LLC) registered to do business in Vermont, or to sole proprietors (individuals).
- Before you register on ANR Online/or sign in: if your business name is listed as a Corporation (Inc., Co., LLC., etc.), it is your responsibility to register and remain “active” with the Vermont Secretary of State’s Corporation Division. Failure to do this will result in delays in the permit process, and in some cases, you may become inactive in our database. If you are not sure if your business status is Active, check at the VT Secretary of State Corporations Division.
- Doing Business As (DBA)
- All other business names that are not listed as a corporation must be listed as “doing business as” (DBA). Example: John Smith DBA John’s Compost Trucking
Forms and Instructions for all Waste Hauler Permits and Renewals
Please be sure you are choosing the current permit year.
New Permit
Renewals
Additional Vehicles and Other Modifications
Fees for Hauling Solid, Hazardous, and Residual Waste are as follows:
VEHICLE TYPE | DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE | FEE PER VEHICLE |
---|---|---|
Hazardous Waste | (Hazardous Waste) - For each Hazardous Waste vehicle, regardless of size | $125.00 |
2-Axle | (Non-Hazardous Waste) - For each Pickup, each Stake-body or each Utility Trailer | $50.00 |
3 or 4-Axle | (Non-Hazardous Waste) - For each Packer, each Dump, each Roll-off, or each Box Truck | $75.00 |
All Other Larger Type Vehicles | (Non-Hazardous Waste) - For each Tractor, or each Trailer, each one must be permitted | $100.00 |
Waste Hauler Guidance
Online Hauler Application Brochure
Hauling Without a Permit Brochure
Vermont Hauler Notification System: Waste haulers utilizing Vermont wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) for disposal of septage or other wastes may sign up to receive notifications (via text or email) from specific WWTFs about capacity and schedules for receiving septage and other wastes.
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Permit Navigator
*** Note: Please be aware that other VT Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) permits may be needed for your project, and it is your responsibility to secure any other required permits. To help assist in determining whether other VT ANR permits that might be needed, ANR recommends that you use VT ANR’s Permit Navigator Tool by going to the VT Department of Environmental Conservation website (dec.vermont.gov). In addition, please be aware that your project may require other local, state, or federal permits outside of VT ANR’s jurisdiction, which are not covered by the VT ANR Permit Navigator Tool. Failure to secure all necessary permits in advance of activity can result in significant impacts to your project’s final scope and can take additional processing time. ***
Contact Information
MAILING ADDRESS FOR WASTE HAULERS:
Agency of Natural Resources
Department of Environmental Conservation
Waste Management & Prevention Division
Attn: Charlene Dandrea
1 National Life Drive, Davis 1
Montpelier, VT 05620-3704
WASTE HAULER CONTACTS:
Email: Charlene.Dandrea@vermont.gov 802 261-5171
Email: Barb.Schwendtner@vermont.gov 802 249-5904
Email: Aric.Brown@vermont.gov 802 461-5759
Email: Frank.Erickson@vermont.gov 802 461-6116
IT CONTACT:
If you are having trouble with ANR Online forms, forgot your password, etc., and need technical assistance, contact: Carol.Chamberlin@vermont.gov or 802 477-2982.
All other staff at the Waste Management & Prevention Division can be reached at the Waste Management & Prevention Division’s main telephone number (802) 828-1138.
Franchise Tax on Waste Facilities and Commercial Haulers of Solid Waste (form SWT-608)
Complete ONLY if you are hauling non-hazardous waste out-of-state for disposal.
- If you haul non-hazardous waste out-of-state for disposal complete this form and send us a copy of it on a quarterly basis to Charlene.Dandrea@vermont.gov. To pay the franchise tax, go to the Franchise Tax Form. You can contact the Department of Taxes by Telephone: (802) 828-2551 or email: tax.business@vermont.gov.
Residual Waste Hauler Reporting and Fee Requirements
Haulers with a Residual Wastes Transporter Permit must submit quarterly reports of their hauling activities and pay septage fees of $.01 per gallon of septage hauled per 3 V.S.A. §2822(j)(33) by the 15th day of the month following the end of each quarter (April 15, July 15, October 15, January 15). All septage generated in Vermont, regardless of where it is disposed, and all septage disposed in Vermont regardless of where it was generated is subject to the fee.
Quarterly reporting and fee payment is done via our Electronic Reporting System. At this web page you will find User Guides providing instructions on how to file reports and staff contact information for questions and/or assistance with filing reports.