The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has made the Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, bringing them into force on 19 January 2026. The statutory rule updates the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s charges for processing registrations of carriers, brokers and dealers of controlled waste. The instrument was made under Article 39 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 and paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 4 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, following approval by the Assembly. (S.R. 2026 No. 8.)
From 19 January 2026, the fees are £191 for a new registration, £96 for a renewal, and £49 for issuing a replacement or other prescribed service. The same figures apply to registrations of carriers and, via Schedule 4 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, to brokers and dealers. These replace the rates that have applied since 18 February 2025 (£180, £90 and £46), an increase of roughly 6–7 per cent. (legislation.gov.uk)
DAERA’s guidance states that anyone transporting, buying, selling or arranging the movement of controlled waste in the course of business must register, with upper‑tier registrations covering most commercial activity. It also notes that operating without registration is a criminal offence carrying a maximum £5,000 fine. Lower‑tier categories such as government departments, district councils, charities and certain limited waste streams are exempt from fees but may still require registration. (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Legally, the 2026 instrument substitutes the new sums in two places: regulation 4 of the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, and paragraph 3(10) of Schedule 4 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. DAERA’s explanatory material confirms that charges for processing these registrations must be set in legislation, while wider waste‑management licensing fees are set out separately in the department’s charging scheme to support full cost recovery in line with Managing Public Money Northern Ireland. (legislation.gov.uk)
In practical terms, applications made on or after 19 January 2026 will be charged at the updated amounts. Combined registrations-where an operator acts as both a carrier and a broker-continue to be available through the standard NIEA forms. DAERA also makes clear that letting a registration lapse triggers a fresh application at the ‘new’ rate rather than renewal pricing. (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Firms should update internal fee schedules, procurement documentation and project pricing to reflect the new charges. For a multi‑site operator renewing several registrations, the step from £90 to £96 increases cost by £6 per item, while replacements or variations now cost £49. Operators preparing an initial application should confirm acceptable identity and address documentation in advance to avoid processing delays, as set out in DAERA’s published guidance. (daera-ni.gov.uk)
The changes build on last year’s revision. The 2025 regulations moved the same three fees to £180, £90 and £46 from 18 February 2025; the 2026 regulation is a further adjustment rather than a change to who must register or how the system works. (legislation.gov.uk)
Administratively, the 2026 rule was sealed on 19 January 2026 by a DAERA senior officer and commenced the same day. Businesses should treat the sums in S.R. 2026 No. 8 as the definitive legal amounts, with DAERA’s online application portals and charging scheme expected to reflect the revised figures as they are updated. (S.R. 2026 No. 8.)