Exports of waste plastic

In March 2020, the Australian, state and territory governments, and the Australian Local Government Association, as members of the former Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that the export of waste glass, plastic, tyres and paper be regulated by the Australian Government.

We regulate the export of waste plastic under the:

• Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020
• Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Plastics) Rules 2021 (Rules).

Plastic waste is also controlled through the Hazardous Waste Act (Regulation of Exports and Imports) 1989 that implements Australia’s obligations under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. You may need a hazardous waste permit in some situations.

Plastic we regulate

From 1 July 2022, you can only export waste plastics that have been:

• sorted into single resin or polymer type and further processed, for example flaked or pelletised, or 
• processed with other materials into processed engineered fuel.

To export waste plastic, you need:

• a waste plastic export licence
• to declare each consignment to us before you declare to the Australian Border Force's Integrated Cargo System.

We regulate most waste plastic. We regulate plastic that is either:

• discarded, rejected or left over from an industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity
• surplus to or a by-product of an industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity.

Plastic waste we don't regulate

We don’t regulate waste plastic that:

• is exported solely for personal or domestic use, for example a collectible soft drink bottle
• has been imported into Australia on a temporary basis and re-exported in the same container and with the same trade description.

Examples of plastics that are not waste plastics are:

• new plastic products made from virgin materials
• plastic products made from waste plastic that are ready for a new use, e.g. soft drink bottles made from recycled plastic.

Sorted and further processed plastic

Since 1 July 2022, you must have a licence to export waste plastics that have been sorted, and further processed and capable of remanufacture without further processing in accordance with a specification.

Find out about plastic specifications.

‘Processed’ generally refers to plastics that have been sorted, washed, cleaned and transformed, for example, into hot washed flakes or single resin pellets. It does not refer to plastic that is simply shredded.

If you meet all licencing requirements, we can grant a licence for up to 3 years for sorted and further processed plastic. To continue to export after this time, you will need to renew your licence.

Find a facility that may be able to process your plastic.

Processed engineered fuel (PEF)

Processed Engineered Fuel (PEF), also known as a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), is plastic waste that is processed with other waste material ready for direct use as a fuel in high energy intensity facilities such as cement kilns.

Exports of PEF to be used as a fuel (other than in direct incineration) or other means to generate energy, fall under the Y48 category in Annex II of the Basel Convention and the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (the Hazardous Waste Act) which gives effect to the Basel Convention in Australia. These types of exports therefore require a hazardous waste permit.

In Australia, the export of plastic waste is also regulated under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the RaWR Act). However, on 9 December 2022, the Waste Plastic Exports List was updated to allow for these types of exports to be regulated solely under the Hazardous Waste Act and the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (OECD Decision) Regulations. A waste plastic export licence is therefore no longer required under the RaWR Act for these types of exports.

To apply for a hazardous waste export permit for PEF, please contact hwa@dcceew.gov.au or visit the department’s hazardous waste permit.

You may need a hazardous waste permit

Plastics may contain chemicals or additives that make them hazardous and require a hazardous waste permit prior to their export. For example PS, ABS and other plastics from e-waste, the automotive sector and building insulation may contain flame retardants and would be considered hazardous. Other plastics, such as PVC, may also require a hazardous waste permit. Find more information about hazardous waste.

Plastics may contain chemicals or additives that make them hazardous and require a hazardous waste permit prior to their export. For example polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and other plastics from e-waste, the automotive sector and building insulation may contain hazardous chemicals such as flame retardants and would be considered hazardous. Mixed plastics also require a hazardous waste permit. Other plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), may also require a hazardous waste permit depending on the destination. Find more information about hazardous waste.

The export of plastic waste will require a hazardous waste permit if:

• it is not almost exclusively a single polymer or resin (some exclusions apply)
• it is not almost free from contamination from other types of waste
• it is a halogenated polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (some exclusions apply)
• the importing country controls the material under the Basel Convention or related agreements
• it contains hazardous components that make the waste plastic hazardous
• it is processed engineered fuel (PEF)
• it is not going for recycling.

What you must do

Apply for a licence

You must apply for and be granted, a waste export licence to export regulated waste plastic from 1 July 2021.

Find out how to apply.

For an overview, read our guide to exporting.

For documents that you need to provide to accompany your application, read Plastics specifications and documents.

Check whether you need a waste export licence

If the plastic you export, and the circumstance under which you export it, are on the waste plastic export list, you may not need a waste export licence.

If the plastic is hazardous, you will need a hazardous waste permit.

If you're not sure, contact us.

Reports on industry standards

The department has commissioned two reports on the waste plastics industry.

In 2021 a report was commissioned to set out existing standards and specifications for the recovery of waste plastic, and typical buyer considerations such as source, contamination levels, and moisture content.

In 2022 a report was commissioned to outline the processing requirements for waste plastics from 1 July 2022.

The reports are important references for the department, including when assessing waste plastics licence applications.

The 2021 report and 2022 report are available for your information.

Contact us

WELD portal: if you have a WELD portal account, contact us via ‘My messages’

Email exportwaste@dcceew.gov.au with a description of your circumstances and we will contact you

Phone: 1800 852 974