Exports of plastic waste | Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment – Australia

Posted on May 25, 2021 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting Regulations

PEF is plastic waste that is processed with other waste material ready for direct use as a fuel in high energy intensity facilities such as cement kilns.

Source: Exports of plastic waste | Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Phases

The Rules come into effect in two phases:

From 1 July 2021, you can only export waste plastics that have been:

  • sorted into single resin or polymer type, or
  • processed with other materials into processed engineered fuel.

You will no longer be able to export mixed waste plastics.

From 1 July 2022, you can only export waste plastics that have been:

  • sorted into single resin or polymer type and further processed, for example flaked or pelletised, or
  • processed with other materials into processed engineered fuel.

And you will need:

  • a licence to export your waste
  • to declare each consignment to us before you declare to the Australian Border Force’s Integrated Cargo System.

The definition of PEF seems to be a little unclear.  We hope the government has it tightly defined so it can’t be abused and loads of mixed plastic sent off shore again