Who needs a waste licence?

Waste disposal and recovery activities in Ireland require authorisation in accordance with the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended.

A waste recovery or disposal activity at a facility is either:

  1. an exempted activity (no authorisation required), or
  2. requires a Waste (or IPC) licence, or
  3. requires a Waste Facility Permit, or
  4. requires a Waste Certificate of Registration / Registration Certificate.

Depending on the authorisation required these activities are controlled either by the EPA or by Local Authorities. Local Authority waste authorisations are regulated by the EPA.

EPA Controlled Waste Activities

The EPA grants and enforces waste licences for specified waste activities listed in the 3rd and 4th Schedule to the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended including:

  • landfills;
  • transfer stations;
  • hazardous waste disposal;
  • ship recycling; and
  • other significant waste disposal and recovery activities.

Such licences are granted for waste activities carried on by both local authorities and private operators.

If you are planning to start a new activity which requires a waste licence you must have a licence first. It is an offence to carry on a licensable activity without a licence from the EPA.

The EPA also issues Certificates of Registration to local authorities for smaller scale waste activities listed in the Third Schedule Part II of the Waste Management (Facility Permit Registration) Regulations, S.I 821 of 2007 as amended.

Local Authority Controlled Waste Activities

Local Authorities grant and enforce Waste Permits and Certificates of Registration issued to Private Operators for waste activities listed in the Third Schedule to the Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registration) Regulations S.I. No. 821 of 2007 as amended.

Do you need an IPC or a Waste Licence?

If you are carrying on IPC and Waste activities, you can ask the EPA to make a declaration as to whether an IPC or Waste licence is required. Such a declaration may also be made by the EPA of its own volition. For more information, see Section 39A of the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended.

Do I need a licence, permit or certificate of registration?

To help you decide if you need a waste licence, a waste facility permit, a certificate of registration or if you are exempt from all of these authorisations we have prepared the flow charts below. 

Local Authority Decision Tree                        Private Operator Decision Tree  

If you are still not sure which authorisation you require after examining the flowcharts, you may ask the EPA to answer the question for you in accordance with Article 11 of the of the S.I. No. 821/2007 - Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007. Read more about the Article 11 Declaration process and access the Article 11 webform.

Do I need a licence, permit or certificate of registration?

To help you decide if you need a waste licence, a waste facility permit, a certificate of registration or if you are exempt from all of these authorisations we have prepared the flow charts below. If you are still not sure which authorisation you require after examining the flowcharts, you may ask the EPA to answer the question for you in accordance with Article 11 of the of the S.I. No. 821/2007 - Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007. Read more about the Article 11 Declaration process and access the Article 11 webform.

image of decison tree for Local Authorities apply for Waste licence or Cert of Registration

This Decision Tree is to assist in deciding if you require a Waste Licence or a Certificate of Registration

If you are still not sure which authorisation you require after examining the flowcharts, you may ask the EPA to answer the question for you in accordance with Article 11 of the of the S.I. No. 821/2007 - Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007. Read more about the Local Authority- Do I need a Waste Licence or Cert of Registration and access the Article 11 webform.

Local Authority Decision Tree

Private Operator Decision Tree

image of decison tree for private sector in applying for Waste licence, permit or Cert of Registration

This is to assist you in deciding if you require a Waste Licence, Waste Permit or a Certificate of Registration.

If you are still not sure which authorisation you require after examining the flowcharts, you may ask the EPA to answer the question for you in accordance with Article 11 of the of the S.I. No. 821/2007 - Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007. Read more about the and access the Article 11 webform.

Private Operator Decision Tree