Registration of Carriers
You can apply for a Lower Tier carrier Licence if you are one of the following. Please note if a business carries construction and demolition (C&D) waste they must register as Upper Tier.
- A Government Department.
- A District Council (including City or Borough).
- Any wholly owned subsidiary of the Northern Ireland Railways Company Ltd.
- A waste collection authority, a waste disposal authority or a waste regulation authority.
- A charity.
- A voluntary organisation.
- A business which only carries animal by-products.
- A business which only carries, brokers or deals in waste from premises used for agriculture (see section below).
- A business which only carries waste from a mine or quarry.
- A business that does not carry construction and demolition waste, or waste which has been produced by another person/organisation.
Note: If you register as lower tier and then carry, broker or deal in controlled waste outside of the criteria listed above, you will be committing an offence and NIEA will take enforcement action.
How can you register?
See the below instructions. You must answer all the questions that apply to you or NIEA will not be able to process your application.
Step by Step Instructions to Apply for a Lower Tier Waste Carrier Licence
- 1. Click the following link to access the DAERA licensing portal: https://www2.daera-ni.gov.uk/emfgapplyforlicence
- 2. Select ‘Registration of Carriers’
- 3. Choose ‘New Lower Tier Carrier’
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4. You will then be prompted to log into an app ‘NI Direct’ or ‘Government Gateway’ before you will be able to apply for your LT licence.
Note - If you get an error message ‘MMPID’ while trying to log in please let us know and we can investigate this for you. - 5. Once logged in, complete and submit the Lower Tier application form which is free. Upon approval, your licence will be issued via email.
Frequently asked Questions
How long does registration last?
A Lower Tier registration lasts indefinitely unless cancelled or NIEA revokes it.
What is a ROC Application Number?
This is a nine-digit number that is issued to customers when their ROC licence is issued. This number will also be on shown on both the 2 month and 6 month reminders. This number will be required when customers want to renew, modify or cancel their licence. Example of this number will be ROCXXXXXXXXX.
What is a ROC Licence Number?
A licence number if Lower Tier will start ROC LT XXXX.
What happens when we receive your application?
The legislation allows NIEA up to two months to determine your application. However, the Agency is usually quicker than this. You can assist the process by making sure that you complete all questions fully and provide all the relevant documentation. Once the Agency makes a decision on your application, we will let you know the outcome. Your application may be refused if you or another relevant person has been convicted of a relevant offence or if you provide incomplete or false information.
What happens once application is approved?
Lower tier applicants will receive confirmation of their registration by email. This confirmation is an Approval Letter and can be used as evidence of registration.
Is it important to keep contact details up to date?
Yes, NIEA require accurate contact details to ensure the licence holder can be reached for inspections, audits, or compliance checks. This helps maintain legal standards for waste management. Also changes in legislation, renewal reminders, or guidance on best practices are often sent to licence holders. Without correct contact details, important information could be missed.
How do I change my details?
A Waste Carrier Licence may need to be edited under certain circumstances during the life of that licence. It is the responsibility of the licence holder to notify the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and ensure that the licence holder is always contactable while also ensuring NIEA records and online registers remain accurate and up to date. This can be done when clicking on the modification button. When then logged in you can make any changes you then need to and submit your changes to the Registration of Carriers team to consider. Once the changes you have made have been accepted an amended licence will be issued to you. If further information is required, the ROC team will be in touch.
What is C&D Waste?
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste refers to materials generated during the construction, renovation, repair, or demolition of buildings, infrastructure, and other civil engineering projects. This includes waste arising from preparatory works such as transport infrastructure development. C&D waste encompasses not only structural components of buildings but also internal elements and systems of buildings, such as fixtures, fittings, and mechanical or electrical installations.
Hazardous waste?
If your activities involve hazardous waste, you will need to comply with the Hazardous Waste Regulations. To find out what you are legally required to do please visit the NIEA website at Hazardous Waste and the Netregs website at NetRegs.
What happens if the nature of my business changes?
Should your circumstances change and you no longer qualify as lower tier, you should apply for an Upper Tier licence.
You will be prompted to login / register with the DAERA Central Authentication Service.