Responsibility for clean neighbourhoods
Local environmental quality affects everyone and DOE is responsible for policy and legislation for issues such as: litter, dog fouling, graffiti etc. However, your local council is responsible for implementing this legislation and you should contact them regarding operational matters.
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
The main piece of legislation covering this policy area is The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, which gives district councils additional powers to deal with local environmental quality issues. The Explanatory Notes are a useful guide to the Act.
The Act makes significant amendments to the Litter (NI) Order 1994. An amended version of the Order is available for your information.
Guidance
In order to help the District Councils implement the relevant legislation, the Department has produced a wide range of non-statutory guidance documents.
These are also a useful guide on how the legislation might affect you and how the District Council should apply the law.
Links to the guidance documents can be found on the following page: