Waste management license

Waste management license

The issue of waste management is becoming increasingly relevant for most businesses today, from small production or storage sites to large factories and logistics complexes. Ukrainian legislation requires mandatory licensing for anyone involved in the collection, transportation, storage, processing, recycling or disposal of waste. Without such a licence, activities in this area are illegal and may result in significant fines and, in some cases, even the closure of the enterprise.
That is why a waste management licence is a guarantee of stable, safe and legal operation of a company, allowing it to avoid problems with regulatory authorities and demonstrate its responsibility to the environment and society to its partners.

Legal stages of obtaining a waste management licence

Here are the main steps you need to take to obtain this important permit:

• Preliminary audit of activities and compliance assessment. It all starts with a legal and technical analysis: the types of waste handled by the company, the volumes and methods of collection, transportation and processing are determined in order to obtain a waste management licence. The lawyer also checks the availability of the necessary material and technical resources: specialised premises, containers, transport, equipment for waste processing or disposal. Contracts with contractors and the status of internal documentation are analysed. 
   
• Preparation of a package of documents for the licence. The package includes: founding documents, documents on the right to use (ownership or lease) premises, certificates and technical passports for equipment, sanitary and epidemiological conclusions, production control programmes, job descriptions of employees, waste disposal contracts (if contractors are involved), accounting journals and other documents. The specialist compiles a list according to the types of waste and specific activities to avoid mistakes and refusals. 
   
• Submission of an application to the licensing authority. Next, the application itself is prepared and all documents confirming the enterprise's readiness to carry out activities in the field of waste management are attached. The application is submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. The specialist ensures that the package is complete and error-free, which significantly reduces the processing time. 
   
• Support during inspections and elimination of comments. During the application review stage, the licensing authority often organises on-site inspections to confirm the actual condition of the enterprise. The lawyer participates in such inspections, responds to official requests, helps to quickly respond to possible comments, and prepares additional explanations or corrections. 
   
• Obtaining a licence and support in fulfilling licence conditions. After a positive decision, the enterprise can obtain a waste management licence and be entered into the relevant register. But the work does not end there: it is necessary to comply with the licence conditions, keep records of waste, prepare reports and be ready for scheduled inspections. The specialist continues to provide advice to ensure that the activity remains safe and legal. 

Careful completion of all these stages, together with professional legal support, allows you to avoid unnecessary time and stress, and most importantly, allows you to obtain a waste management licence without refusals or fines. 

Terms of service for obtaining a waste management licence

To obtain a licence quickly and smoothly, it is important not only to hire a specialist, but also to organise the interaction process correctly as follows:

1. Openness and provision of complete information. The lawyer must have full access to data on the company's activities: internal documents, contracts, technical passports, waste movement schemes. This allows you to identify all ‘weak spots’ in advance and eliminate them before submitting the application.
2. Readiness to improve and implement recommendations. Often, in order to successfully obtain a licence, it is necessary to update some documents, develop additional internal regulations, organise staff training or even purchase additional equipment. It is important that the company is ready to take these steps. 
    
3.  Fast communication and legal authority for representation. To support the process, it is necessary to sign a power of attorney allowing a specialist to represent the company's interests in government agencies. Prompt interaction is also required in responding to requests from regulatory authorities and providing additional documents. 
    
4. Formalisation of relations in a written agreement. The document clearly specifies the scope of legal services, terms, price and confidentiality conditions. This creates a clear and predictable framework for cooperation.

Compliance with these conditions significantly speeds up the process of obtaining a waste management licence and makes cooperation more efficient, transparent and effective.

Advantages of consulting a lawyer when applying for a waste management licence

Saves time and effort: The lawyer takes care of all the paperwork and communication with the authorities.

Reduces the risk of licence refusal: Thanks to the correct preparation of documents and readiness to address any comments, the possibility of refusal is minimised.

Support in case of inspections and protection of interests: This allows you to maintain peace of mind and stability in the operation of your business.

Frequently asked questions about obtaining a waste management licence

What determines the cost of obtaining a waste management licence?

The price depends on several criteria: the types and volumes of waste processed by the company, the state of readiness of the material and technical base, the volume of documents required for development or renewal, the deadlines for completion, and the need for support during inspections. The cost is always specified after a preliminary analysis and is fixed in the contract, which guarantees transparency of cooperation.