Exports of waste paper and cardboard

We regulate the export of waste paper and cardboard are regulated under the following legislation:

Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the RaWR Act)

Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Paper and Cardboard) Rules 2024.

Paper and cardboard we regulate

Regulated waste paper and cardboard means mixed or unsorted paper and cardboard that is:

• discarded, rejected or left-over from an industrial, commercial, domestic or other activity, or
• surplus to, or a by-product of, an industrial, commercial, domestic, or other activity.

‘Mixed or unsorted’ means the waste contains more than one type of paper and cardboard and has not been sorted into a single grade or material type.

This waste type is generally, but not necessarily, sourced from commingled recycling.

Exported waste paper and cardboard consignments must not exceed 5% total contamination by weight.

Paper and cardboard waste we don’t regulate

You don’t need a waste export licence to export waste paper and cardboard if it is:

• pulp of fibres derived from recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard or of other fibrous cellulosic material of a single / non-mixed grade of paper and cardboard pulp type
• sorted liquid paperboard products which comprise layers of paper, aluminium foil, and plastic coating
• exported solely for personal or domestic use
• temporarily imported into Australia and then exported again in the same container with the same trade description
• hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (Hazardous Waste Act).

Hazardous waste paper and cardboard

Some waste paper and cardboard exports are controlled under the Hazardous Waste Act. This law gives effect to the Basel Convention (the Convention) in Australia.

Exports of waste paper and cardboard will require a hazardous waste export permit under the Hazardous Waste Act instead of a waste export licence under the RaWR Act if any of the following apply:

• it is mixed with other wastes for example plastics, metals, food waste
• it contains contaminants listed in Annex I of the Convention, regardless of the amount
• any of the import or transit countries control the material under the Convention or related agreements. For example, certain countries have legislated contamination thresholds below 5% for imports of waste paper and cardboard.

Waste paper and cardboard may require a hazardous waste export permit instead of a waste export licence if it:

• contains PFAS, mineral oils or adhesives, or
• comes from medical waste.

To determine whether your waste requires a hazardous waste export permit instead of a waste export licence, you should:

• read about Exporting, importing or transiting hazardous waste
• check import restrictions, such as contamination limits, with the Competent Authority of the import country and each transit country.

If you are unsure whether your waste is hazardous, contact the Hazardous Waste team at hazardous.waste@nationalepa.gov.au.

Apply for a licence

Find out more about applying for a licence to export regulated waste paper and cardboard:

• Apply for a licence
• Evidence to provide with your licence application – general
• Evidence to provide with your licence application – paper and cardboard

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