A waste generator is the person from where the trackable waste is transported. This means that you are the generator if you produce a trackable waste. You also become a generator if you store, treat or otherwise process a trackable waste before you send it to another facility.

Review the Waste tracking guideline – overview for generators (PDF, 226KB) for more information.

Trackable waste and exempt waste

View a full list of waste that must be tracked in Queensland. This list includes waste codes which must be included when completing waste tracking certificates.

You can also view a list of exemptions from waste tracking requirements.

Obligations for waste generators

If you are a waste generator, there are waste tracking obligations that apply to you:

• When you give the waste to the transporter, you must give them the prescribed information about the waste.
• Submit the prescribed information about the waste to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
• Record and keep the prescribed information for a minimum of 5 years.

Note: It is an offence for a waste generator to give the waste to another person to transport unless the transporter is appropriately licensed to transport regulated waste.

Submitting waste tracking information

You must submit your waste tracking information using the following approved methods:

• Online Services single online

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using your Online Services customer account.

• Online Services bulk upload data file

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using the bulk upload data file submission using your Online Services customer account. To use this submission method, you may need to enter into an agent's agreement with another waste handler.

• Paper waste transport certificates (WTC)

Record and submit prescribed information using paper waste tracking certificates by post. In addition to providing information to the transporter, you must:

• give the WTC pink copy with parts 1 and 2 completed to the department
• keep the WTC green copy with parts 1 and 2 completed for a minimum of 5 years.

Penalties

As a waste handler, you may be audited by the department to ensure that you are complying with your waste tracking obligations. Penalties may apply if you fail to meet these obligations.

A waste transporter is the person who transports the trackable regulated waste. If you transport commercial and industrial regulated wastes in any quantity or if you are transporting more than 250kg of regulated trackable waste non-commercially, you must record and submit waste tracking information using an approved electronic or paper submission method.

Trackable waste and exemptions

If you are transporting more than 250kg of regulated waste, you may also need to hold an environmental authority (EA) for regulated waste transport.

View a full list of waste that must be tracked in Queensland. This list includes waste codes which must be included when completing waste tracking certificates.

You can also view a list of exemptions from waste tracking requirements.

Obligations for waste transporters

If you are a waste transporter, there are waste tracking obligations that apply to you:

• You must carry the prescribed information received from the generator. This can be in the approved electronic or paper form.
• When you give the waste to the receiver, you must give them the prescribed information about the waste.
• Report any discrepancy in information received from the generator in writing to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (e.g. waste type, weight, receiving facility).
• Record and keep the prescribed information for a minimum of 5 years.

Transporting odorous waste to composting facilities

Transporters of odorous waste (odorous feedstock, as listed in schedule 18A of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019) who do not hold, or who are not acting under an EA, have additional responsibilities when transporting odorous feedstock to composting facilities. This includes:

• interstate waste transporters who hold an interstate transport licence, but the waste is not being transported into Queensland under an approved consignment number
• and
• people transporting quantities of regulated waste within Queensland which are under the threshold of ERA 57 – Transporting Regulated Waste.

In giving odorous feedstock to a receiving compost facility, transporters must be satisfied that the facility holds an EA, or is acting under an EA, for undertaking composting of the odorous feedstock. It is an offence, with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, for transporters to give odorous feedstock to a receiver without being satisfied that the receiving facility is properly licensed for odorous feedstock.

Submitting waste tracking information

You must submit your waste tracking information using the following approved methods:

• Online Services single online

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using your Online Services customer account.

• Online Services bulk upload data file

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using the bulk upload data file submission using your Online Services customer account. To use this submission method, you may need to enter into an agent's agreement with another waste handler.

• Paper waste transport certificates (WTC)

Record and submit prescribed information using paper waste tracking certificates by post. In addition to providing information to the transporter, you must:

• ensure that the generator keeps the WTC pink and green copies to keep and submit to the department
• carry the WTC white, blue and yellow copies with parts 1 and 2 completed with the load
• give the WTC white and yellow copies to the waste receiver
• keep the WTC blue copy with all parts completed for a minimum of 5 years.

A waste receiver, for the purposes of the waste tracking provisions, is the person to whom the waste is transported.

Trackable waste and exemptions

View a full list of waste that must be tracked in Queensland. This list includes waste codes which must be included when completing waste tracking certificates.

You can also view a list of exemptions from waste tracking requirements.

Obligations for waste generators

If you are a waste receiver, there are waste tracking obligations that apply to you:

• When you receive the waste, you must obtain the prescribed information about the waste from the transporter.
• Submit the prescribed information about the waste to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
• If another waste handler is submitting the information on your behalf, you must enter into a written agent's agreement.
• Report any discrepancy in information received from the generator in writing to the department (e.g. waste type, weight, receiving facility).
• Record and keep the prescribed information for a minimum of 5 years.

Waste must not be removed or released from a licensed regulated waste transporter's vehicle unless it is at a site that holds an environmental authority to receive regulated waste.

Submitting waste tracking information

You must submit your waste tracking information using the following approved methods:

• Online Services single online

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using your Online Services customer account.

• Online Services bulk upload data file

Record, submit and access information on trackable waste movements anytime using the bulk upload data file submission using your Online Services customer account. To use this submission method, you may need to enter into an agent's agreement with another waste handler.

• Paper waste transport certificates (WTC)

Record and submit prescribed information using paper waste tracking certificates by post. In addition to providing information to the transporter, you must:

• give the WTC white copy with parts 1, 2 and 3 completed to the department
• keep the WTC yellow copy with parts 1 and 2 completed for a minimum of 5 years.

You must comply with waste tracking obligations if you generate, transport or receive any of the types of waste or contaminants listed below.

To meet general environmental obligations and duties, you must categorise your waste correctly and use the waste codes below when submitting waste tracking information. These codes are taken from Schedule 2E of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019.

Learn how waste generators, transporters and receivers should submit tracking information.

You can also view a list of exemptions from waste tracking requirements.

Trackable waste and waste codes

Note: If the waste falls under more than 1 category in this list, and the code for 1 of the categories is marked with an asterisk, use the code marked with an asterisk to categorise the waste.

Under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019, waste handlers (generators, transporters and receivers of regulated waste) have obligations under the waste tracking provisions to ensure that regulated waste is managed safely. These obligations begin from the time the waste is produced and continue until it is disposed of, or otherwise processed.

Waste tracking information (prescribed information) must be recorded and submitted to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) using the prescribed form.

Find out more about your obligations as a waste generator, transporter or receiver.

Prescribed forms for waste movements

You can fulfil your waste tracking requirements using the following methods (prescribed forms):

• single online submission via Online Services
• bulk uploads using the bulk upload data file specification (PDF, 416KB) and bulk upload template (XLSX, 10KB) via Online Services
• paper waste transport certificates (WTC)
• completing paper waste transport certificates (PDF, 486KB).

For more information on how to complete waste transport certificates, read the guideline (PDF, 486KB).

Fees apply when submitting waste tracking information.

Moving trackable waste within Queensland

Online Services

Online Services is the department's digital platform for online services and transactions, including waste tracking information, helping to reduce paperwork for business and industry.

You will need to register as a customer before submitting your forms using the Online Services Waste Tracking system.

Paper waste transport certificates

Paper WTCs can be purchased from DETSI.

Moving trackable waste into and out of Queensland

Queensland into another state or territory

If you move waste from Queensland to another state or territory, you must submit paper certificates. Interstate waste transport certificates can be purchased from DETSI in lots of 10.

Another state or territory into Queensland

If you intend to transport regulated trackable waste from another jurisdiction into Queensland, you must first apply to the department for a consignment number authorisation. You will also have to record and submit waste tracking information to the department via one of Queensland's prescribed forms.

Appointing agents for waste tracking

As a waste handler, you may appoint an agent to act on your behalf to meet your waste tracking obligations.

To appoint an agent to act on your behalf, you must enter into a specific agreement with the person. This agreement is binding and must be provided to the department on request. More information is available in the guideline on agents agreements (PDF, 161KB).

Audits and penalties

As a waste handler, you may be audited to ensure you are complying with your environmental and waste tracking obligations. This includes being appropriately authorised to transport or receive regulated waste, and submitting completed WTCs. Penalties apply if you don't comply with the waste tracking provisions.

Choose the fee below that relates to how you will submit the prescribed information for regulated waste tracking.

For general guidelines regarding trackable waste transportation, read how to submit waste tracking information.

Before transporting regulated waste either into or out of Queensland there are legal obligations that must be met. The consignment authorities (interstate/territory movement of wastes) guideline (PDF, 230KB) provides specific detail about what is required.

To transport regulated waste into Queensland, you must complete and submit an application for consignment authorisation (PDF, 80KB) to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. If approved, you will be assigned a consignment number which must be recorded on interstate waste tracking documentation while the waste is being transported. A consignment number may be approved subject to conditions.

An consignment number for trackable waste transported into Queensland, assigned by the department, is a legal requirement under section 93 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 (EP Regulation). Transport of trackable waste into Queensland without a consignment number is an offence under section 83 of the EP Regulation.

A paper interstate waste transport certificate (WTC) issued by the state where the waste was generated must be completed and submitted to the relevant destination state.

Interstate transport of regulated waste is guided by the provisions of the National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories) Measure 1998, which have been included in the Regulation.

More information

Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Waste Tracking Unit
(07) 3330 5677
waste.track@des.qld.gov.au

You do not have to record and submit waste tracking information for:

• non-commercial transportation of less than 250kg of trackable waste
• waste transported in a pipeline
• waste activities granted an exemption by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation – read the seeking an exemption for trackable waste guideline (PDF, 445KB) to see if you are eligible
• transportation of trackable waste in a container if
• • the amount of trackable waste is not more than 5% of the capacity of the container
  • and
  • the container is being transported to a place to be refilled with the same substance as the waste, without first undergoing any process other than the refilling
• power station fly ash being transported to a place for use in the treatment of waste in a way that involves combining the waste with the ash
• waste being transported to a registered laboratory for analysis
• transportation of chemicals from a farm, by the owner or occupier of that farm (or by another person for free), to a place that disposes of agricultural or veterinary chemicals in accordance with a product stewardship
• transportation of trackable waste in accordance with a product recall
  • by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
  • or
  • reported to Food Standards Australia New Zealand
  • or
  • by the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• waste being transported for use as a stock food
• waste being transported to a farm for use as a soil conditioner or fertiliser.

The department can grant exemptions. To find out if you are eligible, read the exemption for trackable waste guideline (PDF, 445KB).

To apply for a waste tracking exemption with complete the exemption for transport of trackable waste form (DOCX, 194KB).

Also consider...

• View a list of trackable waste in Queensland.

Waste tracking requirements

To protect the community and ensure waste is handled responsibly, regulated waste transport laws apply for transporting asbestos and lead acid batteries, even if the load of waste only contains residues of these waste types.

If you are a generator, transporter or receiver of asbestos and lead acid battery wastes, you are required to record and submit prescribed information on the waste.

For more information on recording and submitting waste tracking information, read completing waste tracking certificates, transporting regulated waste interstate and waste tracking exemptions.

Find out about other types of wastes that must be tracked.

Note: Holding Class A and Class B asbestos removal licences issued under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 does not permit you to transport asbestos. You must obtain a separate approval from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

Contact us

For waste tracking enquiries:
Waste Tracking Unit
GPO Box 2454
BRISBANE  QLD  4001
Email: waste.track@des.qld.gov.au

Phone: (07) 3330 5677

For licensing enquiries:
Permits and Licence Management
GPO Box 2454
BRISBANE  QLD  4001
Email: palm@des.qld.gov.au

Phone: 13QGOV (13 74 68)

For WHSQ asbestos removalist licences:
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
Licensing Services
PO Box 820
LUTWYCHE  QLD  4030
Email: WHSQLicensing@oir.qld.gov.au

Phone: 1300 362 128