The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

These regulations cover a wide range of waste management activities and have now been almost fully implemented by means of further regulations and commencement orders. The responsibility for waste management licensing transferred from local district councils to the Department of the Environment in December 2003. The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) is responsible for issuing licences, setting conditions on licensed activities and monitoring sites to ensure compliance with licence conditions. The Regulations also place legal requirements on those who transport controlled waste to register with EHS and places a legal duty of care on anyone who produces, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste to ensure that it is handled legally by authorised persons. There are also a number of exemptions from licensing (exemptions must be registered with EHS and a fee paid) which are likely to affect farmers in some instances.

Further details are available on the EHS website.