Apply for a licence to export regulated waste

When to apply for a licence

Apply for a licence when:

• we regulate the waste material you want to export
• you own the waste to be exported
• the waste material meets licensing requirements.

You only need one licence for glass, plastics, and tyre waste exports. A separate licence is required for paper and cardboard.

Licences are granted for up to 3 years.

What we assess

For glass, plastics and tyres licence applications, our assessment will consider:

• if your waste needs to meet a specification, whether the specification/s you nominate is appropriate for the intended use of the material in the importing country
• if your waste needs to be processed before export, your ability to process or have someone process the material to the specification/s you nominate
• if you export tyres for retread or re-use, whether the tyres, retread facility or re-use facility, are appropriate
• commercial arrangements with importers or your ability to enter into commercial arrangements
• the outcome of the fit and proper person check, including whether the potential licence holder is likely to comply with the conditions of the licence
• any other relevant matter.

For paper and cardboard licence applications, our assessment will consider:

• if you nominate a licence duration for a period beyond 30 June 2026, your ability to meet the 5% contamination limit on and from 1 July 2026
• the outcome of the fit and proper person check, including whether the potential licence holder is likely to comply with the conditions of the licence
• any other relevant matter.

In assessing licence applications for all waste types, we also consider whether:

• the applicant has applied for, is the holder of, or has been refused, a hazardous waste export permit
• a condition of a hazardous waste export permit held at any time by the applicant has been, or is being, breached
• the applicant’s compliance history under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, including if the applicant has held an export licence that has been revoked.

Before you apply

Before you apply for a licence, make sure you read and understand how waste export regulations affect your waste:

• glass exports
• plastic exports
• tyre exports
• paper and cardboard exports.

You also need to:

• consider whether you can meet our fit and proper person check
• make sure you can provide appropriate evidence with your application
• check whether your exports need to meet hazardous waste requirements.

Prepare to apply

We may take time to process your application. To avoid delays you must:

• Understand the information and supporting evidence you must provide for your waste type. See Before you apply for more information.
• Prepare early to make sure you provide all information and documents required. If you submit an incomplete licence application, your application may be cancelled under s 172 of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020.
  Find out the documents you must provide for your application.
• Register to use our Waste Export Licensing and Declaration (WELD) portal before you can apply for a licence for any waste type.
  Note: The person who registers in the WELD portal is seen as the person who applies for the licence and completes the applicant declaration. Please make sure this person is authorised by your organisation to register and to submit a licence application.

If you provide false or misleading information, you may be subject to a civil penalty or a criminal offence. Find out more about how to comply.

Submit an application for a glass, plastics or tyre export licence

Licence applications for glass, plastics and tyres must be submitted through the WELD portal.

Ensure all documents submitted are legible and have a descriptive name to avoid delays in assessment.

Your application will not be assessed until all required information is submitted in WELD.

Log into the Waste Export Licensing and Declaration portal

Submit an application for a paper and cardboard export licence

After you register with our WELD portal you must complete and submit the waste paper and cardboard export licence application form with all required supporting documentation to exportwaste@nationalepa.gov.au.

Note: Do not submit proof of identification or fit and proper person (FPP) documents with your application via email. These will be requested after you have submitted your application, through WELD.

Once your application is reviewed for completeness, you will receive an acknowledgement email in your WELD account. If your application is incomplete and you have not provided all the required information, you will be contacted and asked to resubmit your application.

After you apply

Correct your application

Let us know, as soon as possible, if any information or documents in your application are incomplete or incorrect. You can email exportwaste@nationalepa.gov.au.

You cannot make changes to an application through the WELD portal.

Provide further information

We may contact you for additional information or documents needed to inform our assessment. Please respond to these requests promptly. This ensures assessment of your licence is not delayed.

We will notify you of the outcome of your licence application

We will email you when we have made a decision on your application. You will then need to log into the WELD portal to read the details of the decision.

If we refuse your application, we will let you know why we refused it. If you do not agree with the decision, you can ask for it to be reviewed.

When you have a licence

Licence information published

We publish the following information on our website about the export licences we grant:

• the name of the licence holder
• the type of waste covered by the licence
• when the licence takes effect
• when the licence expires.

Manage your licence

There are things you must do when you have a licence. Find out in Change or manage a waste export licence.

Comply with export laws

You must comply with waste export laws.

Contact us

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

Email: exportwaste@nationalepa.gov.au

Phone: 1800 976 422