Waste management licensing legislation
This page provides links to key pieces of relevant environmental legislation. The links will direct you to the Legislation.gov, Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), Statute Law Database (SLD) or EUR-lex websites.
Remember that different parts of the UK have variations in environmental laws.
If you are setting up an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list to start compiling your legal register. Your legal adviser or environmental consultant will be able to tell you if other environmental legislation applies to your specific business.
Environmental management systems and environmental reports
You may also need to know about:
Animal by-products and food waste
Pollution prevention and control permits
Northern Ireland
Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 SR 1049 (including updates)
Regulates waste on land, abandoned vehicles, noise nuisance, noise abatement zones, sulphur content of oil fuel used in furnaces and engines, cable burning, and pollution of the atmosphere and water. Other aspects have been revoked.
Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 SI 2778 (including updates)
Sets out the waste management regime covering waste carrier registration and identifying and remedying contaminated land.
Waste Collection and Disposal (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 SR 52
Amends 1992/254. Implements EC Directive 91/156/EEC on waste and makes it an offence to carry out an exempt activity without registering with the local council.
Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 SR 493
Covers applications for waste management licences, which authorise the deposit, disposal and treatment of controlled waste.
Includes conditions on the use of certain mobile plant.
Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 SR 76
Amends 2003/493 to change the regime of waste management licensing exemptions in Northern Ireland to ensure compliance with the Hazardous Waste Directive.
The Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)
Amend regulations 1,3,5 and schedule 1 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (NI) 2003 and prescribe the accepted technical competencies for the purpose of determining if a person can be deemed a fit and proper person to hold a waste management licence. Regulation 3 (1)(b) introduces EU skills as a provider of assurance of technical competence in Northern Ireland.
Waste Management Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 SR 280
Extends the controlled waste regime to bring mine, quarry and agricultural waste within waste management control.Categorises waste as household, industrial or commercial. Amends existing legislation to further implement Directives on waste and landfill.
Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 SR 301
Amend the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 to update the technical competence element of the Fit and Proper Person test. Update the requirement for a waste management operator to obtain an appropriate level of competence.
Waste Management Licensing (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015/386
Amend the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations (NI) 1999 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (NI) 2003. The purpose of the Regulations is to update and broaden the prescribed offences element of the waste Fit and Proper Person test to include ‘reputational’ convictions and remove regulations that are no longer extant.
Further information
The current environmental legislation lists provide links to key environmental statutes and regulations.
Current environmental legislation
For further information on relevant legislation contact your environmental regulator or local council.
Contact your environmental regulator