In brief
- The agent arranges treatment on behalf of a third party; responsibility remains with the producer or holder.
- The dealer buys the waste and takes on responsibility for its treatment.
- Both must be entered in the register of waste managers by means of a prior notification.
- Every shipment requires a prior treatment contract between the operator and the treatment facility.
Waste agent
The agent acts on behalf of a third party, whether the producer or another holder, who engages its brokerage services to arrange the treatment of the waste in its name.
Responsibility for the waste remains with the producer or holder, who ultimately decides which waste manager will treat it.
Waste dealer
The dealer takes part in the management chain on its own account: it buys the waste from the producer or holder. The purchase involves a transfer of ownership, which must be formalised in a contract between the parties.
From that point on, the dealer is responsible for giving the waste it has acquired the most appropriate treatment.
What we handle for the registration
For both agents and dealers:
- Entry in the register of waste managers.
- Prior notification.
- Description and classification of the waste and of the activities to be carried out.
- Calculation of the type and amount of the financial guarantee, where one is required.
Treatment contract
The treatment contract is a private contract between the shipment operator and the entity carrying out the intermediate or final treatment. It must be signed before any shipment takes place, as required by Royal Decree 553/2020, which regulates the shipment of waste within Spain. It sets out:
- The waste covered by the contract.
- The frequency of shipments.
- The type of treatment.
- The protocol for accepting and rejecting the waste.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an agent and a dealer?
The agent arranges treatment on behalf of someone else and does not acquire the waste, so responsibility remains with the producer or holder. The dealer buys the waste and becomes responsible for its treatment.
When does the treatment contract have to be signed?
Before any shipment of waste takes place.
Is a financial guarantee always required?
Not in every case. It depends on the type of waste and the activity; we review this when preparing the registration.