Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act, 1989

The Act regulates the export, import and transit of hazardous waste to ensure that it is managed in an environmentally sound manner. The Act defines "hazardous waste" in terms of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The Act is aimed to:

• Ensure that hazardous waste exports are subject to proper management practices overseas.
• Ensure that imports of hazardous waste are responsibly processed in Australia.
• Incentivise waste generators to recover valuable resources from hazardous waste.

Further, the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) (OECD Decision) Regulations, 1996 give effect to the OECD Decision C(2001)107 (being Revision of Decision C(92)39/FINAL on the control of transboundary movements of wastes destined for recovery operations) in Australia. 

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