1st June, 2021
From 1 July 2021, the export of plastic waste comes into effect under the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Plastics) Rules 2021.
It puts a ban on exporting mixed plastics to those, not of a single resin or polymer type or has not been processed into a value-added material.
Furthermore, in 2022 the ban on exporting single resin polymer plastics that have not been reprocessed comes into effect.
Over the last two years, Australia exported around 224,000 tonnes of mixed plastic, excluding polymers of ethylene, styrene or vinyl chloride, to the value of $19.3 million. About 83% of these plastics will be banned after 1 July 2021 unless being processed further.
The following guidelines below have been outlined by the Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment:
Phases
The Rules come into effect in two phases:
From 1 July 2021, you can only export waste plastics that have been:
- sorted into single resin or polymer type, or
- processed with other materials into processed engineered fuel.
You will no longer be able to export mixed waste plastics.
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.
And you will need:
- a licence to export your waste
- to declare each consignment to us before you declare to the Australian Border Force’s Integrated Cargo System.
Plastic we regulate
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
- processed engineered fuel.
Processed engineered fuel is plastic waste (as stated above) that is processed with other waste material ready for direct use as a fuel in high energy intensity facilities such as cement kilns.
Waste Plastics Export List
We will also regulate plastic that appears on the Waste Plastics Export List.
If you meet the requirements to export a waste plastic on the list, you may not need a licence.
Information on the Waste Plastic Export List will be published soon.
Plastic waste we don’t regulate
We do not regulate the following 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.
The following are examples of plastics that are not waste plastics:
- Plastic products made from virgin materials.
- Waste plastic that has been completely transformed, for example waste plastic that has been recycled back into an oil.
Regulated plastic you can export
Sorted plastic
From 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, you must have a licence to export waste plastic that has only been sorted into a single resin or polymer type. For example:
- PET – polyethylene terephthalate
- HDPE – high density polyethylene
- PVC – polyvinyl chloride
- LDPE – low density polyethylene
- PP – polypropylene
- PS – polystyrene.
This sorted plastic should be almost free of contamination and other types of waste. In assessing licence applications, we will carefully consider the specifications to which waste plastics will be sorted including how these provide for waste plastic being almost free of contamination and other types of waste.
After 30 June 2022, you cannot export plastic that has only been sorted. All plastics will need to be sorted and processed.
Processed generally means plastics that have been sorted, washed, cleaned and transformed. For example, into hot washed flakes or single resin pellets.
Simply shredding plastics is unlikely to be sufficient to meet export requirements.
Find a facility that may be able to process your plastic.
Sorted and processed plastic
From 1 July 2021, you must have a licence to export waste plastics that have been sorted and further processed, for example into hot washed flakes.
You can export them up until 30 July 2022 if you show us in your licence application that you can sort the plastic into single polymer or resin type. This will cover the first phase of the ban.
You can export it beyond 30 July 2022 if you also show us that you can sort and you can process the plastic for further use, for example, into pellets or hot wash flakes. This will cover both phases of the ban.
Processed engineered fuel (PEF)
From 1 July 2021, you can export PEF if you have a waste plastic export licence for PEF.
PEF 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.
What you cannot export
From 1 July 2021, you cannot export mixed waste plastic, for example bales that include a combination of PET and HDPE.
From 1 July 2022, you cannot export plastic that has been sorted only.
What you need to do
Apply for a licence as soon as possible. You need to have a licence before you export any plastic consignments after 30 June 2021.
You only need to apply for one licence even if you export sorted plastic, sorted and processed plastic, and PEF.
Find out how to apply.
For an overview, read our guide to exporting.