Queensland
Queensland's waste tracking legislation regulates the transport of environmentally significant waste. Trackable wastes are regulated wastes described as commercial or industrial in source or nature. Schedule 11 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 lists specific, trackable waste and the subsequent waste codes.
Waste generators, transporters, and receivers have specific obligations when handling regulated and trackable waste to ensure the waste is appropriately transported and managed and does not cause environmental harm. Waste tracking documentation must be completed for each movement of trackable waste, with details submitted to the department.
Not all trackable regulated wastes are suitable for recovery due to their hazardous nature. As expected, wastes of high-recovery value are reflected in the data as having more significant tonnages recorded.
Conversely, wastes with limited recoverable capability, such as solid/sludge requiring special handling (asbestos and chemically fixed or immobilised wastes) and clinical and pharmaceutical waste, have relatively low recovery rates.
The most recovered, trackable regulated wastes (averaged across four years) are:
- putrescible and organic wastes (46.9%)
- oils and hydrocarbons (29.5%).
Overall, recovery rates remain consistent over previous years, with expected fluctuations evident.
