How do you apply for a waste management licence?

This guidance applies to Northern Ireland and Scotland.

If you operate in England or Wales, see our guidance on environmental permits.

Site plant and mobile plant waste management licences

There are two types of waste management licence:

licences for site plant for facilities
licences for mobile plant.

If you think you need a licence, contact your environmental regulator to find out which type of licence you need.

NIEA: Contact details
SEPA: Contacting SEPA

If you operate mobile plant that has been licensed in Scotland you can use the plant in England and Wales without an environmental permit.

Environment Agency: Regulatory position statement - Mobile plant permitting (Adobe PDF - 66KB)

If you have an environmental permit in England and Wales you must also get a waste management licence to operate mobile plant in Scotland.

Complete an application form

You can apply for, modify, surrender or transfer a waste management licence by downloading and sending the correct form to your environmental regulator.

NIEA: Application for a waste management licence (Adobe PDF - 340KB)
SEPA: Waste management licence application forms

Check if you need planning permission before you can apply for a waste management licence

If your site requires planning approval you must get this before you apply for a waste management licence.

You have planning approval if you have:

planning permission
a lawful development certificate
an established use certificate
or, in Scotland, if your site is a general permitted development.

To apply for planning approval or for further information contact your planning authority or local council planning service.

Northern Ireland Planning Service
Scottish Government: Planning system in Scotland
Contact your local council

Provide the correct information

You should apply to your environmental regulator using the official application form and include:

site and operator details, demonstrating that you have the right technical competence, experience and money
the type and quantities of waste to be handled at the site
responsible staff members’ details
a site-specific risk assessment
an odour risk assessment
information on whether planning permission is required.

When your environmental regulator issues you with a waste management licence it will include conditions you have to comply with. These are aimed at preventing your activity causing harm to the environment or human health.

Conditions are likely to cover:

types and quantities of waste you can store or treat
treatment methods
storage times
operation and management
hours of operation
record keeping
security levels at your site.

If your site closes, you must continue to comply with your licence conditions until your environmental regulator issues you with a certificate of completion.

Make sure you have the correct qualifications

Your site must be managed by a competent person. This person must be involved in the day to day running of the site.

If you operate a licensed waste management facility you, or someone who works for you, must hold a Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC). The level of certificate needed depends on your activities.