Environmental Crime

If you suspect illegal waste activity please report the incident to the Environmental Crime Section through one of the following methods:

What can you do to prevent criminality in waste activities?

If you require your waste to be moved or disposed of make sure that you employ a registered waste carrier, use an authorised waste management facility, landfill or exemption.
We publish a list of current registered waste carriers and current waste management facilities or landfills and exemptions on our public registers page.

Make sure that you receive a Waste Transfer Note (.PDF 12Kb) from the carrier or authorised waste facility for your waste. You must keep the note for two years.

Make sure that you check that the carrier is taking your waste to an authorised waste management facility or landfill.
Note: Sites receiving hard fill such as rubble, or being infilled with clay, for development must have at least a current waste management exemption.

If you are in any doubt about the legality of a waste activity contact the Environmental Crime Section immediately.

Failure to take due diligence in dealing legally with your waste is likely to result in you:

• being prosecuted
• receiving a criminal record on conviction
• receiving a significant fine (the maximum fine for each waste offence is now £50,000) and/or imprisonment
• being directed to clean up a site with resulting significant costs; and
• being referred for criminal confiscation, or civil recovery by the Serious Organized Crime Agency, where there has been benefit from criminality

Relevant Legislation

Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997