Waste Tracking Guideline

Managing waste tracking in Queenslandoverview

Background
Under Queensland's waste management legislation waste handlers are required to submit waste tracking information to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) as part of the system for tracking waste types as listed in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulation 2000 (the Waste Regulation). The waste tracking system enables EHP to track waste from its source to the place of storage, recycling, treatment or disposal. Waste tracking ensures all parties involved with managing the waste take a responsible attitude towards waste management and that the waste is transported and managed appropriately to prevent illegal waste dumping which could cause, or has the potential to cause, environmental harm. Under the Waste Regulation, a waste transport certificate (WTC) must be completed for each load of trackable waste. However, alternatives ways of providing information can be approved under section 37 of the Waste Regulation.

Definitions
Prescribed informationmeans the information stated in schedule 2 of the Waste Regulation, which a waste handler must record or give to another waste hander or to EHP. This requirement is met by correctly completing the relevant part(s) of the WTC. Regulated wastemeans waste that is commercial, industrial, construction or demolition waste, whether or not it has been immobilised or treated; and is of a type, or contains a constituent of a type, mentioned in schedule 1 of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation 2011 and includesfor an elementany chemical compound containing the element; and anything that contains residues of the waste. However, regulated waste does not include acid sulfate soil or contaminated soil. Trackable wastea regulated waste of a type mentioned in Schedule 1 of the Waste Regulation to which the waste tracking provisions of the regulation apply. Wastedefined as in section 13 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and includes anything other than a resource approved under Chapter 8 of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 that is: left over, or an unwanted by-product, from an industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity; or surplus to the industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity generating the waste. Waste can be a gas, liquid, solid or energy, or a combination of any of them. A thing can be waste whether or not it is of value. Waste generatora generator is a commercial or industrial organisation which produces or stores trackable waste and arranges for this waste to be sent for storage, recycling, treatment or disposal at another location via an authorised transporter. Waste handlersgenerators, transporters and receivers all have waste tracking responsibilities. Collectively they are referred to as waste handlers. Waste receivera receiver is any person operating a facility that receives trackable waste for recycling, treatment, storage or disposal, these facilities must be licensed. Sometimes interstate facilities will be used that are licensed by the relevant State or Territory authorities. Waste transportera transporter is anyone who transports the trackable waste from its place of production or storage to another location. Transportation of regulated waste for fee or reward or in quantities of more than 250 kg in a load requires licensing. Transportation includes, but is not limited to, truck, tanker, trailer and semitrailer, train, boat or aircraft.

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Waste tracking overview

Obligations
This section provides an overview of obligations of waste handlers in relation to waste tracking. Waste generator record the prescribed information about the waste. give the prescribed information to the waste transporter give the prescribed information to EHP (pink copy of the WTC with parts 1 and 2 completed) keep records of the waste transaction for five years (green copy of the WTC with pats 1 and 2 completed); and a generator must give trackable waste only to authorised waste transporters.

Waste transporter carry the prescribed information about the waste with the load give the prescribed information to the waste receiver keep records of the waste transport for five years (blue copy of WTC with all parts completed); and notify EHP of any discrepancies associated with the transaction.

Waste receiver record the prescribed information about the waste on the WTC give the prescribed information and EHP (white copy of the WTC with all parts completed) notify EHP of any discrepancies associated with the transaction keep records of the waste transport for five years (yellow copy of WTC with all parts completed). 2

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Agents (section 35 of the Waste Regulation) The waste generator, transporter or receiver may appoint an agent to act on their behalf to meet waste tracking provisions. A copy of an agreement between a waste handler and an agent, or written notice from the agent specifying the name of the waste handler and the provisions of the agreement, is to be supplied to EHP on request. A separate agents agreement information sheet is available from the EHP website www.ehp.qld.gov.au.

Exemptions
Waste tracking does not apply in the following circumstances: non-commercial transportation of less than 250 kg of trackable waste if waste is transported in a pipeline if given an exemption by EHP the transportation of trackable waste in a container if: o the amount of trackable waste is not more than five per cent of the capacity of the container; and o the container is being transported to a place to be refilled with the same substance as the waste, without first undergoing any process other than the refilling if power station fly ash is being transported to a place for use: o as a raw material in the production of cement, concrete or plastic; or o in the construction of a road; or o in the treatment of waste in a way that involves combining the waste with the ash if waste is being transported to a registered laboratory for analysis if waste is being transported for use as a stock food if waste is being transported to a farm for use as a soil conditioner or fertiliser.

Waste tracking for interstate transport

Interstate transport of regulated waste is subject to the provisions of the National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories) Measure 1998, which have been included in the Waste Regulation. Procedures developed by the various states and territories require completion of an interstate waste transport certificate, available from the administering authority in the state or territory where the waste originates. Prior to the transportation, a person (usually the generator) needs to obtain a consignment authorisation and associated consignment number. The consignment authorisation is to be obtained from the relevant agency or its delegate in the destination state or territory. For waste being transported into Queensland, the waste handler must be issued a consignment authorisation from EHP. A separate Consignment Authority Guideline is available online from EHP.

Alternative waste tracking systems

Waste handlers may also apply to the EHP under section 37 of the Waste Regulation for an alternative way of providing waste tracking information. An example of an alternative way of providing information is the approved use of electronic systems for capturing waste tracking information.

Responsibilities of EHP
By matching the information sent by the waste generator and the waste receiver, EHP can track the waste journey and identify which wastes have been disposed of inappropriately. EHP can also check that the transporter and receiving facility are appropriately licensed. Where the information does not match, EHP will ascertain the reason and investigate what action, if any, should be taken under the legislation.

Penalties
The Waste Regulation allows for penalties of up to 20 penalty units to be imposed if waste tracking information is not recorded, retained or provided to EHP as required. Penalties can be imposed through on-the-spot fines or may involve prosecution. More significant penalties of up to 165 penalty units apply if trackable waste is given to a nonlicensed transporter. There are also significant penalties for providing false or misleading documents to the administering authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
1

A penalty unit is currently $110 and is subject to periodic change

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Related information
waste tracking guidelineapproval of an alternative waste tracking system waste tracking guidelineconsignment authorities (interstate/territory movements of waste) waste tracking guidelinecompleting waste transport certificates waste tracking guidelinewaste tracking overview for generators waste tracking guidelineagents agreements waste tracking guidelineseeking an exemption for trackable waste

Appendices
Appendix 1Trackable wastes and codes Appendix 2Example of a waste transport certificate

Where can I find more information?

EHP has a variety of general information available on its website www.ehp.qld.gov.au, which helps explain the provisions of the legislation. Advice on aspects of this information sheet or other matters on the generation, transportation and receipt of trackable wastes may be obtained from EHPs Waste Tracking Unit on (07) 3330 5677 or email waste.track@derm.qld.gov.au.

Disclaimer While this document has been prepared with care it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal, professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any external decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection should satisfy themselves independently and consult their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action.

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Appendix 1Trackable wastes and codes

Waste description Acidic solutions or acids in solid form Animal effluent and residues (abattoir effluent, poultry and fish processing wastes) Antimony; antimony compounds Arsenic; arsenic compounds Asbestos Barium compounds (excluding barium sulphate) Basic (alkaline) solutions or bases (alkalis) in solid form Beryllium; beryllium compounds Boron compounds Cadmium; cadmium compounds Chemical waste arising from a research and development or teaching activity, including new or unidentified material and material whose effects on human health or the environment are not known Chlorates Chromium compounds (hexavalent and trivalent) Clinical and related wastes Copper compounds Cyanides (inorganic) Cyanides (organic) Encapsulated, chemically-fixed, solidified or polymerised wastes Ethers Filter cake Fire debris and fire washwaters Fly ash Grease trap waste Halogenated organic solvents Highly odorous organic chemicals (including mercaptans and acrylates) Inorganic fluorine compounds other than calcium fluoride Inorganic sulphides Isocyanate compounds Lead; lead compounds Liquid food processing waste Material containing polychlorinated biphenyls ((PCB's), polychlorinated napthalenes (PCN's), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT's) and/or polybrominated biphenyls (PBB's) Mercury; mercury compounds Metal carbonyls Mineral oils Nickel compounds Non toxic salts Oil and water mixtures or emulsions, or hydrocarbons and water mixtures or emulsions Organic phosphorous compounds Organic solvents other than halogenated solvents Organohalogen compounds - other than another substances referred to in this table Perchlorates Pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines Phenols, phenol compounds including chlorophenols Phosphorus compounds other than mineral phosphates Polychlorinated dibenzo-furan (any congener) Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (any congener) Residues from industrial waste treatment/disposal operations Selenium; selenium compounds Sewage sludge and residues including nightsoil and septic tank sludge Surface active agents (surfactants), containing principally organic constituents and which may contain metals and inorganic materials 5 Waste code B100 K100 D170 D130 N220 D290 C100 D160 D310 D150 T100 D350 D140 R100* D190 A130 M210 N160* G100 N190 N140* N150 K110 G150 M260 D110 D330 M220 D220 K200 M100 D120 D100 J100 D210 D300 J120 H110 G110 M160 D340 R120* M150 D360 M170 M180 N205 D240 K130 M250

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Waste description Tannery wastes (including leather dust, ash, sludges and flours) Tarry residues arising from refining, distillation, and any pyrolytic treatment Tellurium; tellurium compounds Thallium; thallium compounds Triethylamine catalysts for setting foundry sands Tyres Vanadium compounds Waste containers Waste containing peroxides other than hydrogen peroxide Waste from heat treatment and tempering operations that uses cyanides Waste from surface treatment of metals and plastics Waste from manufacture, formulation and use of wood-preserving chemicals Waste from the production, formulation and use of biocides and phytopharmaceuticals Waste from the production, formulation and use of inks, dyes, pigments, paints, lacquers and varnish Waste from the production, formulation and use of organic solvents Waste from the production, formulation and use of photographic chemicals and processing materials Waste from the production, formulation and use of resins, latex, plasticisers, glues and adhesives Waste from the production and preparation of pharmaceutical products Waste of an explosive nature other than an explosive within the meaning of the Explosives Act 1999 Wool scouring wastes Zinc compounds

Waste code K140 J160 D250 D180 M230 T140 D270 N100 E100 A110 A100 H170 H100 F100 G160 T120 F110 R140 E120 K190 D230

If a substance falls under more than one item in this list, and one of the items is marked with an asterisk, the code for the substance is the code for the item marked with an asterisk.

Waste Tracking GuidelineManaging waste tracking in Queensland overview

Appendix 2Example of a waste transport certificate