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  2. Environment and the outdoors
  3. Waste and recycling

Disposal of bulky items

When you no longer need an old sofa, cooker, washing machine or fridge, you're responsible for safely disposing of your unwanted, bulky item. You must make sure it doesn't harm the environment or human health. Local councils can arrange to collect and safely dispose of bulky household items.

COVID-19 

All councils have resumed Bulky Waste Collections. Due to increased demand and COVID-19 control measures to protect waste workers and the public, response times may be longer than usual. Consider reusing or repairing the item if possible.

  • Local councils in Northern Ireland

Authorised waste collection

If you give your waste to someone else for disposal, you must make sure they are authorised to take it.  You must only give waste to:

  • local council waste services
  • council-authorised waste contractor
  • licensed private waste operator
  • registered waste carrier

Donating appliances to charities

Some local traders or charities may accept appliances in good working order.
If a local trader offers to collect and dispose of your appliance, you must check they will dispose of it legally.

Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is illegal. Dumped refrigerators and freezers are hazardous to children or pets who may be harmed or become trapped inside.

It also diverts precious resources away from other important services, putting additional pressure on essential waste workers. 

  • Flytipping

Report waste crime

It is a criminal offence to dump or burn waste where it's not allowed, or allow others to do this.

Waste crime:

  • harms the environment
  • creates a human health hazard
  • detracts from an area

If you notice or suspect waste crime, you can report this. 

  • Report waste crime

More useful links

  • Waste and recycling
  • Asbestos removal
  • Connecting your home to the right drains
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Waste and recycling

  • Bins and waste collection
  • Carrier bag levy
  • Carrier bag levy retailer registration login
  • Disposal and composting of garden waste
  • Disposal of a vehicle at the end of its life
  • Disposal of bulky items
  • Disposal of hazardous waste and electrical items
  • Food waste
  • Recycling and reusing
  • Report waste crime

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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