Licences are our permissions tool for high-risk, high complexity activities. There are three types of licences. These are development licences, operating licences and pilot licences.

When you need a development licence

You need a development licence if you:

• undertake an activity that would have needed a works approval before 1 July 2021
• intend to develop a large or medium scale waste and resource recovery facility (WRRF).

When you need an operating licence

You need an operating licence:

1. If you undertake an activity that would have needed a licence before 1 July 2021.
2. If you operate a large-scale waste resource recovery (WRR) facility that:

• receives or processes more than 4,000 tonnes of waste (including combustible waste) a month
• stores more than 10,000 m³ of waste at any time.

Under the Regulations, item 2 is known as ‘Waste and resource recovery – large (A13a)’. If you were doing this activity before 1 July 2021, you have until 1 October 2021 to apply for an operating licence.

If you do not apply by 1 October 2021 and you continue to operate, you are breaking the law.

If you are planning new activities, you must apply for a development licence before you apply for an operating licence.

Get ready to apply – sign up to our new Portal.

For more information, see Types of operating licences.

When you need a pilot project licence

Pilot project licences are for research, development or demonstration of a new technology or technique.

Permits are our permissions tool for medium-risk activities. Some activities that didn’t require an EPA permission or approval before 1 July 2021 will require a permit.

You will need a permit if you:

1. Undertake an activity that would have needed an EPA approval before 1 July 2021.
2. Operate a municipal landfill servicing <5000 people (A05b). Apply for a permit by 2 January 2022.
3. Operate a temporary on-site waste treatment facility (A19). Apply for a permit by 2 January 2022.
4. Discharge or deposit of waste to aquifer (A18). Apply for a permit by 2 January 2022.
5. Supply or use reportable priority waste (A16). Apply for a permit by January 2022.
6. Containment of Category D waste soil (A17). Apply for a permit by 2 January 2022.
7. Waste and resource recovery – medium (A13b). Apply for a permit by 1 October 2021. These are WRR facilities that:

• receive and process more than 4,000 tonnes of waste (excluding combustible waste) a month
• store more than 10,000 m³ of waste at a time.

If your activity is one of these listed and you were doing this activity before 1 July 2021, you need to apply for a permit within the specified time. If you do not apply by the above dates and continue to operate without a permit, you are breaking the law.

If you are planning new activities, you may need to apply for a development licence before applying for the permit (depending on the activity).  If you aren’t sure, you can complete and submit a Permissions proposal pathway form to EPA.

Get ready to apply – sign up to our new Portal

For more information, see Types of permits.

Registrations are our permissions tool for low-risk activities. You will need a registration if your activity includes any of these:

• Other  waste treatment <500 tonnes ewaste (A02c)
• Organic waste processing – small (A07b)
• Waste tyre storage – small (A09b)
• Reportable priority waste transport – other (A10b)
• Waste and resource recovery – small (A13c). This is a WRR facility storing 5 to 5,000 m³ of waste (including combustible waste)
• Temporary storage— biomedical waste (A21)
• Temporary storage— asbestos (A22)
• Temporary storage— designated waste (A23)
• Glass works – small reprocessing (H05c)
• Dry cleaning (L07)

If your activity is one of these listed, you need to register by 2 January 2022. After this time, if you continue to operate without a registration, you are breaking the law.

Get ready to apply – sign up to our new Portal.