If you're unsure of the type of permission you need, we recommend that you use our free permission pathway process before you apply for a permission. Application requirements are generally complex and activity specific.
You must get permission from us to engage in certain activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment. These are called prescribed activities and are defined in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window).
Under section 85 of the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window), you must get a registration to engage in some prescribed activities. These are generally low-risk to moderate-risk activities.
The most important purpose of registrations is to provide a way for the waste from small waste businesses to be legally received.
Registrations are immediately granted on application and have standard conditions.
When to apply for a registration
To see a list of activities that require a registration, visit Find which permission you need.
These activities include but are not limited to:
- dry cleaning for commercial purposes
- operating a small glassworks
- operating a small waste and resource recovery facility
- operating temporary storage for designated waste, asbestos or biomedical waste
- processing organic waste (small-scale operations)
- receiving waste acid sulphate soils for treatment
- transporting reportable priority waste.
Conditions
Registrations have general conditions that address the activity's risks.
These conditions outline your legal obligations as the permission holder. They set up a framework for risk management, record keeping and reporting. To learn more, visit Permission conditions.
We monitor activities to make sure permission holders comply with these conditions. We take a no-tolerance approach and can take action if you do not comply. To learn more, visit Fines and enforcement.
Information to include in your application
To apply, you must provide the information in the table below. You must structure your application to follow this order.
You must also address any other requirements that apply to your application – for example, climate change. community engagement and biodiversity requirements. For more information, visit How to apply for a permission(opens in a new window).
Without this information, your application is incomplete, and by law we cannot assess it.
| Information to provide | Includes |
| application type | Give your permission type (registration). |
| applicant details | Give the:
|
| permission activity | Give your:
For a list of activities, visit Find which permission you need. Summarise your activity in 1,000 words. |
| activity location | Identify if the proposed activity will be conducted at a single location (fixed) or multiple locations (mobile). |
| waste information | For a waste-related permission, select the appropriate waste codes and associated amounts, forms and disposal categories. |
| registration and vehicle details | If you are applying for a waste transport registration, you need to provide details about your vehicle. |
| supporting evidence | Attach any supporting evidence. |
Application fee
For a list of current fees and how they're calculated, visit Fees. An extra fee may apply if we need more time than specified in the Regulations to assess your application.
If an application fee applies, we cannot assess your application until we've received and processed this fee.
Fees also apply for managing your registration.
How to apply
Submit your application and supporting documents through our portal(opens in a new window). For more information, see How to apply for a permission.
How we assess your application
If your online application meets our requirements, we approve and issue your registration immediately. If we refuse your application, we let you know why.
For information about how we assess your application, visit How to apply for a permission.
How long your registration is valid for
| Permission type | Duration |
| registration | up to 5 years |
Renew a registration
You can renew a permit before it expires through our portal(opens in a new window). Fees apply.
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