Hazardous waste
- What is hazardous waste?
- Applying for a permit - applications forms, FAQs
- Publications
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
The main purpose of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 ('the Act') is to regulate the export and import of hazardous waste to ensure that hazardous waste is disposed of safely so that human beings and the environment, both within and outside Australia, are protected from the harmful effects of the waste.
- Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
- International hazardous waste conventions
What we do
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts administers and implements the Act. The Act was developed to enable Australia to comply with specific obligations under the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal, a Convention set up to control the international movements of hazardous wastes.
The main functions performed by the Department in relation to hazardous waste include:
- Processing of export, import and transit permit applications under the Act;
- Ensuring compliance and enforcement with the Act;
- Preparing, implementing and amending legislation relating to the international movements of hazardous waste to, from or through Australia;
- Formulating and implementing policies relating to the international movements of hazardous waste to, from or through Australia;
- Providing administrative assistance to the Hazardous Waste Technical Group which has been established to provide guidance to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on hazardous waste management;
- Participating in International forums such as the Basel Convention and OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) which deal with the international movements of hazardous waste; and
- Consulting, preparing and providing information to stakeholders on the Act and the permit process.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is the official competent authority for Australia under the Basel Convention and this function is administered by the Hazardous Waste Section.
Publications
Brochures and fact sheets
- Advice to manufacturers of fertilizers and stockfeed - 2003 (order printed copy)
- Electronic Scrap - A Hazardous Waste - 2004
- Exporting and Importing Hazardous Waste? - 2004 (order printed copy)
- Exports to Non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Countries - August 2005
- Used Lead Acid Batteries - August 2005
- Zinc ash - July 2003
Books and reports
- Guidance papers
- Criteria for the export and import of used electronic equipment - 2005 (order printed copy)
- Hazard status of waste electrical and electronic assemblies or scrap: guidance paper - October 1999
- Hazard status of zinc and copper ash, dross and residues under the Hazardous Waste Act: guidance paper - April 2001
- Legislative amendments and Evidentiary certificates
- Annual reports
- Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 - 2006-07
- Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 - 2005-06
- Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 - 2004-05
- Operation of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 - 2003-04
- Report of the National Competition Policy Review of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 and associated Regulations - Government response to the review - June 2001
- The Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 - a National Competition Policy Review - February 2001
- Archived publications
Contact us
For further information in relation to the international movement of hazardous waste please contact:
Hazardous Waste Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Phone: 02 6274 1411
Fax: 02 6274 1164
Email: hwa@environment.gov.au
You are welcome to call in and see us by appointment.
Hazardous waste
Legislation
Applying for a permit
- Applying for a permit - application forms
- FAQs
Conventions
Administration
Resources
Key
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