Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. Chemicals management
  5. Scheduled waste management

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • Chemicals management
    • Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
    • Lead
    • Brominated flame retardants
    • Dioxins
    • Plastics
    • Chemical assessments
    • IChEMS
      • Online Register
      • Roadmap
      • IChEMS Scheduling
      • Australian PBT Criteria
      • Minimum Standards
      • Advisory Committee
    • International Engagement
      • Minamata Convention on Mercury
        • Sector specific guidance
      • Rotterdam Convention
      • Stockholm Convention
      • OECD Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee
    • Scheduled waste

Scheduled waste management

A small percentage of hazardous waste has been regarded for a long time as intractable, or difficult to safely dispose of, without special technologies and facilities. These wastes are known as scheduled wastes. To ensure adequate protection of human health and the environment, Australian governments agreed to implement a national approach to the management of scheduled wastes.

What is scheduled waste?

A formal definition of "scheduled waste" is: a material or article containing a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, exceeding the threshold concentration and threshold quantity (see the relevant specific scheduled waste management plan), which is:

  • organic in nature;
  • resistant to degradation by chemical, physical or biological means;
  • toxic to humans, animals, vegetation or aquatic life;
  • bioaccumulative in humans, flora and fauna; and
  • listed on Schedule X (the agreed list of scheduled wastes).

Schedule X includes Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs).

National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste

The National Strategy was endorsed by Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) in 1993 and provides for the safe management and disposal of scheduled wastes.

  • National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste  - ANZECC, November 1992

National management plans

An important outcome of the National Strategy was the development of the three national plans for Scheduled Waste:

Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs)

The term organochlorine refers to a wide range of organic chemicals, which contain chlorine and sometimes several other elements. A range of organochlorine compounds have been used in Australia, including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

  • Organochlorine Pesticides Waste Management Plan  - ANZECC, June 1999
  • Summary Report of the OCP Consultation Panel on Major Outcomes from OCP Public Consultations - September 1998
  • Report on Levels of Persistent Organochlorine Pesticides in Australia
  • Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in the Australian Population: Levels in Human Milk  - EPHC, January 2005
  • Safe Handling of Organochlorine Pesticides on Farms - 1999
  • Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) Trade or Common Use Names - April 1997

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs have the chemical formula C12H10-nCIn where 'n' is 1-10. They are a family of 209 congeners (chemicals with the same basic structure) where the biphenyl structure has chlorine atoms substituted for hydrogen atoms to varying degrees.

Approximately 100 of these congeners are present in various technical mixtures of PCBs that were produced commercially in large quantities until the late 1970s. PCBs have been used in electrical appliances, such as transformers and capacitors, hydraulic fluids, plasticisers and dye carriers. They are also generated and released into the environment as unintentional by-products of chemical manufacturing and incineration.

  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls Management Plan  - ANZECC, Revised edition, 2003
  • Review of ANZECC PCB Management Plan
  • Monitoring of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Australia
  • Identification of PCB-Containing Capacitors: An Information Booklet for Electricians and Electrical Contractors  - ANZECC, 1997

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

  • Hexachlorobenzene Waste Management Plan  - ANZECC, November 1996

Scheduled Wastes Management Network (SWMN)

The SWMN comprised members from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the State and Territory environment protection agencies. The primary role of the SWMN is to implement, review and advise EPHC on the National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Wastes. The members of the SWMN provide an important link between Australian, State and Territory authorities which are responsible for implementing the management plans.

National Advisory Body

The National Advisory Body comprised membership from a range of interested organisations including conservation organisations, local government and industry. The role of the National Advisory Body was to advise EPHC on:

  • the implementation of management plans for each category of scheduled waste;
  • community consultation/education and information programs;
  • monitoring and review of the National Strategy; and
  • any other relevant issue on which EPHC or the SWMN sought advice.

The National Advisory Body was dissolved in 2002.

Farm chemicals

ChemClear®

ChemClear? is a chemical waste disposal program for the safe management of unwanted rural chemicals.

For further information contact ChemClear® 

ChemCollect ... cleaning up the farm

ChemCollect was a nationally co ordinated, free collection scheme for the collection and safe disposal of unwanted and de-registered agricultural and veterinary chemicals from farms. These chemicals, particularly the persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), otherwise pose a risk to the environment, human health and markets for our agricultural products. The $27 million program was funded on a 50/50 basis between the Australian Government, States and Northern Territory. Collections were completed in December 2002 and collected over 1,700 tonnes of chemicals.

  • Final report of the National ChemCollect Program 

drumMuster

drumMUSTER is a national industry program for the collection and recycling of empty, cleaned farm chemical containers. Managed by Agsafe, it is a joint initiative of Avcare, the National Farmers Federation, the Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association and the Australian Local Government Association.

For further information drumMUSTER .

In December 2000, the Department of the Environment and Heritage conducted a review of drumMUSTER's implementation.

  • Review of industry waste reduction scheme for crop protection and animal health product containers and drumMUSTER  - ANZECC, 2000

More scheduled waste management publications

  • Appropriate Technologies for the Treatment of Scheduled Wastes - 1997
  • A case study of problem solving through effective community consultation - July 2000
  • Collection and destruction of unwanted farm and household chemicals: discussion paper - June 1997
  • Persistent lipophilic contaminants and other chemical residues in the southern hemisphere - 1998
  • Treatment technologies for destruction or management of arsenic wastes - May 1998
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 16 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.