Waste to be tracked

Does your waste need to be tracked?

Table 1 lists waste descriptions and codes for the types of waste that must be tracked when transported within NSW or interstate. Get these from the characterisation of the waste
Table 2 lists wastes that must be tracked when transported interstate only.
Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environment (Waste) Regulation 2014 also identifies what types of waste must be tracked.

Table 1: Waste descriptions and codes for waste that must be tracked when transported within NSW or interstate

Waste description	Waste code
Acidic solutions or acids in solid form	B100
Antimony; antimony compounds	D170
Arsenic; arsenic compounds	D130
Barium compounds (excluding barium sulphate)	D290
Basic solutions or bases in solid form	C100
Beryllium; beryllium compounds	D160
Boron compounds	D310
Cadmium; cadmium compounds	D150
Ceramic-based fibres with physico-chemical characteristics similar to those of asbestos	N230
Chlorates	D350
Chromium compounds (hexavalent and trivalent)	D140
Clinical and related wastes	R100
Cobalt compounds	D200
Containers and drums that are contaminated with residues of substances referred to in this list	N100
Copper compounds	D190
Cyanides (inorganic)	A130
Cyanides (organic)	M210
Encapsulated, chemically-fixed, solidified or polymerised wastes that are referred to in this Part	N160
Ethers	G100
Filter cake contaminated with residues of substances that are referred to in this Part	N190
Fire debris and fire wash waters	N140
Fly ash	N150
Halogenated organic solvents	G150
Highly odorous organic chemicals (including mercaptans and acrylates)	M260
Inorganic fluorine compounds excluding calcium fluoride	D110
Inorganic sulfides	D330
Isocyanate compounds	M220
Lead; lead compounds	D220
Mercury; mercury compounds	D120
Metal carbonyls	D100
Nickel compounds	D210
Non-toxic salts	D300
Organic phosphorous compounds	H110
Organic solvents excluding halogenated solvents	G110
Organo halogen compounds—other than substances referred to in this Table or Table 2 Oxidising agents	M160
Perchlorates	D340
Phenols, phenol compounds including chlorophenols	M150
Phosphorus compounds excluding mineral phosphates	D360
Polychlorinated dibenzo-furan (any congener)	M170
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (any congener) Reactive chemicals	M180
Residues from industrial waste treatment/
disposal operations Reducing agents	N205
Selenium; selenium compounds	D240
Soils contaminated with a substance or waste referred to in this Table	N120
Surface active agents (surfactants), containing principally organic constituents and which may contain metals and inorganic materials	M250
Tellurium; tellurium compounds	D250
Thallium; thallium compounds	D180
Triethylamine catalysts for setting foundry sands	M230
Vanadium compounds	D270
Waste chemical substances arising from research and development or teaching activities, including those which are not identified and/or are new and whose effects on human health and/or the environment are not known	T100
Waste containing peroxides other than hydrogen peroxide	E100
Waste from heat treatment and tempering operations
containing cyanides	A110
Waste from manufacture, formulation and use of
wood-preserving chemicals	H170
Waste from the production, formulation and use of
biocides and phytopharmaceuticals	H100
Waste from the production, formulation and use of inks,
dyes, pigments, paints, lacquers and varnish	F100
Waste from the production, formulation and use of organic solvents	G160
Waste from the production, formulation and use of photographic chemicals and processing materials	T120
Waste from the production, formulation and use of resins, latex, plasticisers, glues and adhesives	F110
Waste from the production and preparation of pharmaceutical products	R140
Waste mineral oils unfit for their original intended use	J100
Waste oil/water, hydrocarbons/water mixtures or emulsions	J120
Waste pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines	R120
Waste resulting from surface treatment of metals and plastics	A100
Waste tarry residues arising from refining, distillation, and any pyrolytic treatment	J160
Waste substances and articles containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated napthalenes, polychlorinated terphenyls and/or polybrominated
biphenyls	M100
Waste of an explosive nature not subject to other legislation	T200
Zinc compounds	D230

Table 2: Waste descriptions and codes for waste that must be tracked when transported interstate only

Waste description	Waste code
Animal effluent and residues (abattoir effluent, poultry and fish processing wastes)	K100
Asbestos	N220
Containers and drums that are contaminated with residues of waste referred to in this Table	N100
Grease trap waste	K110
Soils contaminated with a substance or waste referred to in this Table	N120
Tannery wastes including leather dust, ash, sludges and flours	K140
Tyres	T140
Wool scouring wastes	K190

Hazard characteristics and dangerous goods properties of trackable waste

If the waste to be transported does not appear in Tables 1 or 2 but has the hazard characteristics described in Table 3, the waste must be tracked. Table 3 also provides the Dangerous Goods Class and UN Code that you can get from the characterisation of the waste.

If the waste does not exhibit any of the hazard characteristics in Table 3, it does not need to be tracked.

It is the waste consignor’s responsibility to show that the waste does not exhibit any of the hazardous characteristics in Table 3, if they decide not to track the waste.

Table 3: Hazardous characteristics and dangerous goods properties

Dangerous Goods Class (UN Class)	UN Code	Characteristics
1	H1	Explosive: Solid or liquid substance or waste (or mixture of substances or wastes) which can, through the chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed, damage the surroundings.
3	H3	Flammable liquids: The word ’flammable‘ has the same meaning as ’inflammable‘. Flammable liquids are liquids, or mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension (for example, paints, varnishes, lacquers) but not including substances or wastes, which give off flammable vapour at temperatures of 60.5 degrees Celsius or less using the closed-cup test, or of 65.6 degree Celsius or less using the open-cup test.
4.1	H4.1	Flammable solids: Solids or waste solids which when transported are readily combustible, or may cause or contribute to fire through friction.
4.2	H4.2	Substances or wastes liable to spontaneous combustion: Substances or wastes which can spontaneously combust when transported, or heat up in contact with air and then catch fire.
4.3	H4.3	Substances or wastes which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases: Substances or wastes which, by interacting with water, are liable to become spontaneously flammable or emit flammable gases in dangerous quantities.
5.1	H5.1	Oxidising: Substances or wastes which, while not necessarily combustible, may, generally by emitting oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials.
5.2	H5.2	Organic peroxides: Organic substances or wastes which contain the bivalent-O-O structure are thermally unstable and may undergo exothermic self-accelerating decomposition.
6.1	H6.1	Poisonous (acute): Substances or wastes liable to cause death or serious injury through skin contact, or harm human health if swallowed or inhaled.
6.2	H6.2	Infectious substances: Substances or wastes containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known or suspected to cause disease in animals or humans.
8	H8	Corrosives: Substances or wastes which, through chemical action, will cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue, or in the case of leakage, will materially damage, or even destroy, other goods or the means of transport; they may also cause other hazards.
9	H10	Toxic gases in contact with air or water: Substances or waste which, when in contact with air or water, are liable to give off toxic gases in dangerous quantities.
9	H11	Toxic (delayed or chronic): Substances or wastes which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may involve delayed or chronic effects including carcinogenity.
9	H12	Ecotoxic: Substances or wastes which, if released, have or may have immediate or delayed adverse impacts on the environment through bioaccumulation, or toxic effects on biotic systems.
9	H13	Could emit another material which possesses H1–H12: Substances or wastes which, after disposal, could emit another material, e.g. leachate, which possesses any of the characteristics listed above.

Other reasons

Could have a significant adverse impact on ambient air quality.

Could have a significant adverse impact on ambient marine, estuarine or fresh water quality.

Note: UN Class and UN Code relate to the hazard classification system included in the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods as used in Australia.

The EPA’s online tracking system is an easy, quick way of creating relevant documents and meeting waste tracking requirements

When waste does not need to be tracked

The EPA exempts certain types of waste from some or all tracking requirements under certain circumstances.

In addition, waste does not have to be tracked under the following conditions

waste is being transported in an emergency to protect human health, the environment or property
waste is being transported for analysis relating to waste categorisation or research; in this instance, the transportation and use of waste must have been approved by the EPA
waste is being transported by pipeline
residue of a substance is being transported in a container, if the container will be refilled with the same type of substance and the substance in the refilled container is intended for reuse
a farm’s owner or occupier are transporting unwanted chemicals from a farm to a collection place provided by a collection scheme approved in writing by the EPA
waste is being transported in accordance with a product recall approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand or the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the Commonwealth