Export of electronic waste (e-waste) May 2014 The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommends all e-waste be considered hazardous waste, unless it is verified otherwise. Before exporting e-waste from New Zealand, the exporter must check whether the waste is hazardous, using the criteria for hazardous waste in the Basel Convention and under Schedule 3 of the NZ Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004) (the Order) (www.legislation.govt.nz). It is likely mixed e-waste will contain some wastes that are defined as hazardous under the Order. Exporters should obtain an export permit for all e-waste exports unless there is evidence to demonstrate it is not hazardous waste. The EPA cannot issue an export permit for hazardous waste without the specific prior consent of the importing country. Exporters should check the rules governing the import of hazardous waste for the country they are exporting to. The draft Basel e-waste guidelines advise exporters to include evidence to demonstrate their e-waste is not hazardous when exporting it as non-hazardous waste. Exporters should also include evidence to show the proposed treatment of the waste is environmentally sound. You should be aware that if you send e-waste as non-hazardous and it is subsequently found to be hazardous, the country of import may require that the shipment be returned, and you would be responsible for the cost of any return shipment. You may also be liable for prosecution under the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988. The EPA cannot verify that any particular shipment is or is not hazardous waste. This responsibility rests with the exporter. The Basel Convention The Basel Convention is an international treaty to control the movement of hazardous waste between nations and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries. Electronic waste can be of a type defined under the convention. Exporters can use the text of the Basel Convention to help determine whether their waste is hazardous. Electronic waste that falls under code A1180 (Annex VIII) of the Basel Convention is hazardous; if it falls under B1110 (Annex IX) it is non-hazardous. The definitions of these codes can be found on the Basel Convention web site at www.basel.int under “The Convention”. The draft guideline UNEP/CHW/OEWG.8/ INF/9/Rev.1 is available on: www.basel. int/Implementation/TechnicalMatters/ DevelopmentofTechnicalGuidelines/ Ewaste/tabid/2377/Default.aspx
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May 2014 Export of electronic waste (e-waste) · Export of electronic waste (e-waste) May 2014 The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommends all e-waste be considered hazardous
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Export of electronic waste (e-waste)May 2014
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommends all e-waste be
considered hazardous waste, unless it is verified otherwise.
Before exporting e-waste from New Zealand, the exporter must check whether
the waste is hazardous, using the criteria for hazardous waste in the Basel
Convention and under Schedule 3 of the NZ Imports and Exports (Restrictions)
Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004) (the Order) (www.legislation.govt.nz).
It is likely mixed e-waste will contain some wastes that are defined as hazardous under the
Order. Exporters should obtain an export permit for all e-waste exports unless there is
evidence to demonstrate it is not hazardous waste. The EPA cannot issue an export permit
for hazardous waste without the specific prior consent of the importing country. Exporters
should check the rules governing the import of hazardous waste for the country they
are exporting to.
The draft Basel e-waste guidelines advise exporters to include evidence to demonstrate
their e-waste is not hazardous when exporting it as non-hazardous waste. Exporters should
also include evidence to show the proposed treatment of the waste is environmentally sound.
You should be aware that if you send e-waste as non-hazardous and it is subsequently
found to be hazardous, the country of import may require that the shipment be returned,
and you would be responsible for the cost of any return shipment. You may also be liable
for prosecution under the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988.
The EPA cannot verify that any particular shipment is or is not hazardous waste.
This responsibility rests with the exporter.
The Basel ConventionThe Basel Convention is an international treaty
to control the movement of hazardous waste
between nations and specifically to prevent
transfer of hazardous waste from developed
to less developed countries. Electronic waste
can be of a type defined under the convention.
Exporters can use the text of the Basel
Convention to help determine whether their
waste is hazardous. Electronic waste that falls
under code A1180 (Annex VIII) of the Basel
Convention is hazardous; if it falls under B1110
(Annex IX) it is non-hazardous. The definitions
of these codes can be found on the Basel
Convention web site at www.basel.int under
“The Convention”.
The draft guideline UNEP/CHW/OEWG.8/
INF/9/Rev.1 is available on: www.basel.
int/Implementation/TechnicalMatters/
DevelopmentofTechnicalGuidelines/
Ewaste/tabid/2377/Default.aspx
Export of electronic waste (e-waste) EPA0132
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E-waste items containing brominated flame retardants E-waste exporters should check whether any plastic e-waste might