Registration of carriers and brokers

Information on how to register as a carrier or broker of waste with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Page last updated 7/2/2024

The Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 place a legal requirement on companies or individuals who transport all categories of controlled waste, to apply for registration with the NIEA

It is a criminal offence to transport controlled waste without being registered with us that carries a maximum fine of £5,000.

What is controlled waste?

Controlled waste is defined as all liquid waste, and any waste that cannot be disposed as a Class I, II or III landfill site. Controlled Waste also includes asbestos, commercial and demolition, clinical or related waste, tyres and waste that has been immobilised or encapsulated.

There are two types of Waste Carrier licence

Upper Tier Carrier

People and businesses who transport, dispose, buy or sell controlled waste or arrange for others to do so on their behalf, basically covering any waste in a commercial vehicle.

The fees in respect of a new Upper Tier Waste Carrier application and an Upper Tier Waste Carrier Renewal application are currently £164 and £82 respectively, in accordance regulation 2 of the Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (SR 2023 No. 211)

Lower Tier Carrier

You can apply for a Lower Tier carrier Licence if you are one of the following-

A Government Department.
A District Council (including City or Borough).
Any wholly owned subsidiary of the Northern Ireland Railways Company Ltd.
A waste collection authority, a waste disposal authority or a waste regulation authority.
A charity.
A voluntary organisation.
A business which only carries animal by-products.
A business which only carries, brokers or deals in waste from premises used for agriculture (see section below).
A business which only carries waste from a mine or quarry.
A business which only carries waste which it has generated on its own premises

There are no fees in respect of a Lower Tier Waste Carrier.

Before you start to register

New Upper Tier Waste Carrier

You require -

To be registered with NI Direct or Government Gateway
Names and dates of birth of the organisation’s executives, owners, directors or partners
Proof of Address for new applications - acceptable documents are -
- For businesses registering to operate from an address other than the home address of a director of the business or a sole trader
  1. Council tax/ Rates bill linking the business to the business premises,
  2. Utility bill linking the business to the business premises,
  3. Tenancy Agreement / Mortgage Statement linking the business to the business premises,
  4. HMRC tax notification linking the business to the business premises.
- For businesses registering to operate from the home address of a director of the business or a sole trader
  1. Council tax/ Rates bill showing the business or sole trader at that address,
  2. Utility bill showing the business or sole trader at that address,
  3. Tenancy Agreement / Mortgage Statement showing the business or sole trader at that address,
  4. HMRC tax notification showing the business or sole trader at that address.
  5. Mortgage statement or tenancy agreement showing the business or sole trader at that address,
  6. Driving licence (sole trader),
  7. NHS card (sole trader).
  8. Passport (sole trader)
details of any environmental offences they’ve committed
A way to pay (for example, a debit or credit card) or you may pay by BACS.

Renew Upper Tier Carrier Licence

If you do not renew your waste carrier certificate by the due date you will be required to complete a new application.
If you renew your upper tier carrier licence you are not required to submit proof of address.

New Lower Tier Waste Carrier