Applications for a waste carriers licence in Northern Ireland are managed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Under law, the definition of a waste carrier in Northern Ireland is “a person who transports controlled waste which that person has not produced themselves, to or from any place in Northern Ireland in the course of any business of his or otherwise with a view to profit.”
If this applies to you, you must apply for an upper tier waste carriers licence. This will cost £152, and last for 3 years, at which point it will need to be renewed at a cost of £76. There are a handful of exceptions that may qualify you for a free lower tier waste carriers licence. This document applies to the following:
- Agricultural waste (including the by-products of animals)
- Mine or quarry waste
- Working as a charity or offering voluntary assistance
- Waste generated by your own business alone
As with the licences provided in England and Wales or Scotland, it is non-negotiable to hold this licence if you wish to transport waste in Northern Ireland. If you found transporting waste without appropriate documentation, you are liable for a fine of up to £5,000.