Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
If you want to transport other people's controlled waste, or your own construction and demolition waste, you must register with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as a waste carrier. Controlled waste includes commercial, industrial and household waste, as well as hazardous waste. Most radioactive wastes and explosive wastes are controlled by other regulations.
Radioactive substances and waste
All businesses can register as waste carriers including self-employed individuals, partnerships, companies or other types of organisation. You need to register even if carrying waste is not your main business activity or if you only carry waste occasionally.
If you do not register and you carry waste, you could be prosecuted.
In Northern Ireland there is a two-tier registration system for waste carriers.
If you transport other people's controlled waste, or your own construction or demolition waste, you must register as an upper tier waste carrier unless you fall into one of the categories for lower tier waste carriers.
You must register as a lower tier carrier if you only carry:
You will also need to register as a lower tier carrier if you carry waste, and are:
Lower tier carriers are also known as 'specified persons'.
You will also need to register as a lower tier carrier if you normally and regularly carry controlled waste produced by your own business.
Exemptions and exclusions from waste carrier registration in Northern Ireland
You do not need to register as a waste carrier if you:
DAERA: Registration of Carriers Application Forms
Register as a Waste Carrier, Waste Broker or Waste Dealer
SEPA: Online registration as a Waste Carrier, Broker or Dealer
SEPA: Online renewal of a Waste Carriers Registration
SEPA: Online surrender of a Waste Carrier Registration
Paper versions are available from SEPA: Application forms
Register as a professional collector and transporter of waste
You must register as a professional collector and transporter of waste, rather than a waste carrier, if you only transport:
If you also carry other types of waste, or mix these types of waste with other waste, you must register as a waste carrier.
You must register as a professional collector and transporter of waste, if you carry waste and are a:
It is free to register as a professional collector and transporter of waste, and your registration lasts indefinitely unless it is revoked or withdrawn.
It is a new requirement for businesses who regularly transport their own waste to register. You can register online at:
SEPA: Online registration as a professional collector and transporter of waste
You can also download the application form to register as a professional collector or transporter from the SEPA website.
SEPA: Application to register as a professional collector (PDF, 54K)
You can get advice from your local SEPA office on any exemptions that may apply to you.
Exemptions and exclusions from waste carrier registration in Scotland
You do not need to register as a waste carrier if you:
DAERA: Waste carriers and brokers information
SEPA: Waste carriers and brokers information
Waste carriers - Who needs to register
Waste Carriers - operating in different parts of the UK
Waste carriers' responsibilities
Waste brokers or dealers - Who needs to register
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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