A Waste Collection Permit is issued to a person/company to collect waste subject to conditions.

A person can not collect waste for the purposes of reward/profit without a valid Waste Collection Permit.

In the case of a multi-regional Permit the holder is permitted to transport and collect waste within the local authority area(s) permitted.

From the 1st February 2012, all new waste collection permit applications and applications for the review of waste collection permits, shall be processed by the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO), Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 F893. Tel: 057 9373710. Please visit here for more information.

Who needs a Waste Collection Permit

Anybody, other than a local authority, who collects waste for the purposes of profit or reward, is required to hold a Waste Collection Permit. Please see below for exceptions from this requirement to hold a Waste Collection Permit.

Exemptions for holding a Waste Collection Permit

There are a number of instances where a Waste Collection Permit is not required, for a more detailed answer please refer to the Waste Management (Collection permit) Regulations 2007. In brief, the exemptions include these include:

• The gathering, sorting or mixing of waste on the premises at which the waste arose.
• The gathering, sorting or mixing of waste which is carried on in accordance with a waste licence, IPPC licence, facility permit or certificate of registration.
• The collection and transportation of non-hazardous waste that is incidental to a persons main business activity and where the quantity is less than or equal to 2 tonnes.
• The collection and transportation of waste, returned or recovered refrigerant gases in refrigerant containers subject to certain conditions.
• The collection and transportation of waste, returned or recovered halons in halon containers subject to certain conditions.
• The collection and transportation of waste, returned or recovered fluorinated greenhouse gases in fluorinated greenhouse gas containers subject to certain conditions.
• The collection and transportation of animal by-products other than catering waste.
• The collection and transportation of packaging waste by a major producer.
• The collection and transportation of farm plastic waste by a producer.
• The collection of waste at a bring facility.
• The collection and transport of WEEE subject to certain conditions.
• The collection and transport of waste by a charity that has been granted a CHY number by the revenue commissioners.
• The collection of waste from a central point by a local authority or with the permission of a local authority.

Please note that there are conditions attached to many of these exemption, check the Regulations before collecting or transporting any waste material.

Contact your local authority for guidance if you are unsure about a collection activity.

Registered Charity

Charities that have been granted charitable recognition by the Revenue Commissioners and have a Charity (CHY) Number do not need a Waste Collection Permit.

The waste must not be collected or transported in a vehicle designed to carry a skip or other demountable container and in the case of the charitable collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that the collection does not include lighting equipment.

Cost of a Waste Collection Permit

Single-region permit fee is €1000
Multi-region permit fee is €1000 per region up to a maximum charge of €5000 for all Regions.

Lifetime of a Waste Collection Permit

A permit is granted for a period of five years. It will expire after the five year period if a review is not initiated within the five year period at least 60 days before the expiry date.

EWC (European Waste Catalogue) Code

An EWC Code is a code used to describe a waste type taken from the European Waste Catalogue and Hazardous Waste List. The different types of waste in the list are fully defined by the six-digit code for the waste and the corresponding waste description. The list is available to download from EPA

Licenced/Permitted Waste Facility
A facility is a site/premises used for the recovery/disposal of waste.
A Licenced/Permitted waste facility is must have a Waste Permit issued by a local authority or a Waste Licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.