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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Vessels, aircraft and military
  4. Vessels
  5. Waste recycling

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Biosecurity and trade
    • Biosecurity
      • Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity
      • Biosecurity 2030 Roadmap
      • Sustainable biosecurity funding
        • Proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy
      • Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper-Biosecurity Surveillance and Analysis
        • Improving biosecurity surveillance and analysis
        • Forum Communique-July 2017
        • Australian Livestock Industry Health Studies
      • Biosecurity Matters
        • Gardening
        • Farming
        • Domestic travel
        • International travel
        • Online shopping
        • Recreational fishing
        • Bushwalking
        • Owning pets
        • Boat owner
        • Long distance driver
      • Committees and partnerships
        • Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel
        • Industry Consultative committees
        • International Cargo Cooperative Biosecurity Arrangement
        • Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme
        • National Biosecurity Committee
          • National Biosecurity Forum
            • Previous forums
          • National Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness Expert Group
          • Sheep and Goat Traceability Task Force
          • State and territory biosecurity roundtables
          • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity
            • Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Review
              • 2024 Independent Review
                • Consultation
              • 2017 Independent Review
            • Protocol on biosecurity data and information sharing between the Commonwealth, State and Territory biosecurity agencies
            • National Surveillance and Diagnostics Framework
            • National Transition Program Policy Framework
            • National Biosecurity Engagement and Communication Framework
            • National Framework for the Management of Established Pests and Diseases of National Significance
          • National Biosecurity Response Team Arrangements 2017-2019
          • National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2021-26
          • National RD&E Priorities for Invasive Plants and Animals 2016-2020
        • Northern Australia Biosecurity Framework
          • Northern Australia Biosecurity Framework Reference Group
        • Partnerships in biosecurity
          • MOU Agriculture and Health
        • National Biosecurity Statement
          • Communication and Engagement Strategy
      • Aircraft, vessels and military
        • Aircraft
          • Aircraft disinsection
            • Aircraft Disinsection Information (ADI) and Import Relationship and Access Manager (iRAM)
            • Aircraft Disinsection Information (ADI) and Import Relationship and Access Manager (iRAM) support
            • Aircraft disinsection procedures for flights into Australia and New Zealand
          • Aircraft application form
          • Arrangements for aircraft invoking sovereign immunity
          • Guidelines for airline and aircraft operators arriving in Australian territory
          • Landing places determined as first points of entry for aircraft
        • Vessels
          • Australian registered vessels
          • Biosecurity legislation and the Australian territory
          • Commercial vessel biosecurity reporting
            • Cabotage cargo (fertiliser, grain and stockfeed)
            • Release from biosecurity control
            • Ship sanitation certification
          • Cruise vessels
          • Disembarking crew
          • First points of entry – information for arriving vessels and goods
          • First points of entry and non-first points of entry
            • Alternative biosecurity entry point application form
            • First points of entry - seaport operator requirements
          • Human health
          • Marine pest biosecurity
            • Ballast Water
              • Australian Ballast Water Management Requirements
              • Ballast Water Authorisation
            • Biofouling in Australia
              • Australian biofouling requirements
              • In-water cleaning in Australia
              • International relations
              • Biofouling resources
              • Non-commercial vessel biofouling
          • Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS)
            • MARS communications and training materials
            • MARS offline forms
          • Non-commercial vessels
            • Accredited suppliers list for termite detection services
            • Importing vessels with timber components frequently asked questions
            • Importing vessels with timber components
          • Offshore installations
            • Offshore Installations Biosecurity Guide
          • Plants and insects
            • Burnt pine longicorn beetle - person in charge questionnaire and statement
          • Pratique
          • Reportable biosecurity incidents
          • Waste recycling
        • Military
          • Australian Defence Force
            • Cleaning instructions - Personal equipment
          • Visiting military
            • Essential biosecurity information for military forces
            • Foreign government vessels invoking sovereign immunity
          • Cleaning requirements
          • Military frequently asked questions
          • Military vessels
          • Offshore inspections of military equipment
          • Ration packs
        • Transhipping through Australia
          • Transhipped ship’s stores lodgement cover sheet
      • Biosecurity in Australia
        • Biosecurity Advanced Analytics Capability
        • Detector dogs
        • Innovative Biosecurity 3D X-ray Project
        • Modernising Australia’s approach to managing established pests and diseases of national significance: Discussion paper
        • Northern biosecurity
          • Aquatic pest biosecurity community awareness
          • Biosecurity-it’s everyone’s business virtual reality experience
          • Country Handle with Care - Costa and dirtgirl Tackle Biosecurity
          • Frontline-northern biosecurity’s community song
          • Avian influenza awareness – Keep a TopWatch!
          • Lumpy skin disease awareness – Keep a TopWatch!
          • Rabies Awareness - Keep a Top Watch!
          • Report a pest, weed or disease in Northern Australia
          • You can be a Biosecurity Champion too!
            • Developing industry and supporting local growers
        • Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program
          • Northern Australia Indigenous Biosecurity Ranger Forum
          • Northern Australia Indigenous Rangers Biosecurity Round Table
          • Biosecurity Business Grants Program
          • Ranger Capability Building Grants Program
          • Frontline Ranger Newsletter
        • Northern Australia Biosecurity Strategy 2030
          • The Northern Australia People Capacity and Response Network (NAPCaRN)
        • Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS)
          • Co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
          • Aircraft arriving on the Australian mainland from Torres Strait
          • NAQS target pests, diseases and weeds
          • Moving goods to, from and within Torres Strait
          • Significant events in the history of NAQs
            • Celebrating 30 years of co-operative biosecurity in northern Australia
            • Commemorating 25 years of NAQS
          • Shipping and yachting in the Torres Strait
          • Map of NAQS zones
        • Public awareness and education
          • Australian biosecurity webinar series
          • Detect and Protect podcast
            • Series 1 - How our biosecurity system works
            • Series 2 – Detector dogs
          • Australian Biosecurity Awards
            • Current Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
            • Past Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
          • Pacific engagement
            • Exporting to Australia from the Pacific
            • Working together with our Pacific neighbours
            • Australia's biosecurity system
            • Inside the department
              • Meet the team
            • Your local authority
          • Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer
            • Activities for kids
            • Teacher resources on biosecurity
          • Visual resources
        • Reform of the biosecurity system
          • Biosecurity Training Centre
          • Industry Partnerships and Engagement
        • Reports and publications
          • 2008-12 Imported cargo processing, a DAFF time release study
          • Biosecurity Matters Newsletter
          • Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility: The Nairn report
            • Australian Quarantine a shared responsibility: The Government response
        • Pest and disease surveillance at Australia’s borders
        • Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Biosecurity Strategy
      • Biosecurity research and innovation
        • Biosecurity Innovation Program
        • How we work with you
        • Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis
        • Innovation Ideas initiative
        • Innovation Pilots Initiative
        • Biosecurity Innovation Exchange 2018
      • Import risk analyses
        • Import request
        • Conducting an import risk analysis
          • Appropriate Level of Protection
          • Australia’s international biosecurity obligations
          • Roles and responsibilities in an import risk analysis
          • Scientific Advisory Group
        • Animal import risk analyses
          • Review of prawns and prawn products
            • Background: prawn and prawn products review
            • Prawn imports and biosecurity
            • Submissions received on the Review of prawns and prawn products – draft report
            • Submissions received on Australia’s current prawn import policy
          • Cooked turkey meat from the United States
            • Cooked turkey meat from the United States - Commencement of a review
          • Cooked duck meat from Thailand
          • Dairy products for human consumption
          • Fish and fish products for use as pet food and stockfeed
          • Hatching eggs of poultry
          • Import of live sturgeon for aquaculture
          • Natural sausage casings
          • Psittacine birds
          • Egg powder from approved countries
          • Zoo bovids from approved countries
        • Plant risk analyses
          • Plant commodity/country and pest risk analyses
          • How we conduct a plant risk analysis
        • Group pest risk analyses
          • Group pest risk analysis for scale insects
            • Draft report fact sheet
          • Group pest risk analysis for thrips and orthotospoviruses
            • Draft report
            • Fact sheet
            • Final report
          • Group pest risk analysis for mealybugs
            • Draft report
            • Draft report fact sheet
            • Final report
            • Final report fact sheet
        • Biological control agents
          • Risk analyses
            • Completed Risk Analyses
            • Current Risk Analyses
          • Host test lists
          • Protocol for biological control agents
        • Weed assessments
          • Development of the Weed Risk Assessment system
          • Weed risk assessments frequently asked questions
          • Reasons for the Weed Risk Assessment system
          • The Weed Risk Assessment process
            • Weed Risk Assessment system
        • Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis guidelines
        • Centre of excellence for biosecurity risk analysis
        • Biosecurity advices
        • Register as a stakeholder
      • Emergency preparedness and outbreak response
        • Exercises
          • Exercise Volare (2024)
        • Maintaining good animal welfare outcomes in an emergency animal disease outbreak
        • National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement review
          • NBC approach to the NEBRA five year review recommendations
        • Horse Disease Response Levy review
        • Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness Program
          • Feral animals as hosts of exotic disease: Identification of potential disease contact between feral animals and sites of exotic disease incursion
          • Avian Influenza Viruses in Migratory Shorebirds and Nomadic Water Fowl in South Australia
          • Avian Migration and Movement pathogens in the Australo-Papuan context
          • AWHN OIE Report 2004
          • AWHN OIE Report 2005
          • Destroy and Let Lie Disposal Project
          • Development and Validation - Newcastle Disease
          • Field Surveillance and Monitoring - Leishmania in the Northern Territory
          • Final report: preparing Australia by preparing Papua New Guinea
          • GIS Mapping Software in National Surveillance Database
          • Identifying and Mapping Hendra virus
          • Identifying and Mapping Hendra Virus (2)
          • Identifying and Mapping Hendra Virus Strain Diversity (Stage 1)
          • Improving the Relevance and Efficiency of Wild Bird Surveillance for AI
          • Reservoirs of Infection: The Epidemiological Characteristics of an Emerging Pathogen
          • Summary Report - Contraceptives Pigs
          • Summary Report - pigs disease spread
      • Animal
      • Plant
      • Pests, diseases and weeds
      • Environmental biosecurity
        • Managing Environmental Biosecurity
          • How we engage
          • First Nations
          • Research and innovation
        • How the system works
        • Exotic environmental pests
          • The Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund
          • Priority list of exotic pests, weeds and diseases
            • Technical information about the Exotic Environmental Pest List
            • Higher-risk exotic environmental pests
      • Biosecurity questions and answers
      • Legislation
        • List of Biosecurity Preparedness Plans
        • List of Goods That May Carry Hitchhiker Pests
        • The Biosecurity Act 2015
          • Updates to information sharing provisions
          • Changes to import requirements
          • Introduction to the Biosecurity Act Interactive Learning tool
          • Reviewable decisions
        • Reportable biosecurity incidents
          • Reportable biosecurity incidents form
        • Compliance and enforcement
          • Biosecurity Compliance Plan 2016-17
          • Biosecurity Compliance Statement
          • Compliance and enforcement tools
          • Redline - report a biosecurity breach
          • Export and import laws and the role of the department
          • Infringement Notice Scheme
            • Infringement notices at the airport
            • Other infringement notices
      • Fees and charges
      • Forms
      • Coronavirus
        • Food and agriculture
        • Exports
        • Imports
        • Domestic animals

Maritime waste recycling for cruise and commercial vessels

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF or the department) considers a range of scientific and evidence-based data when setting measures to manage the biosecurity risks associated with arriving vessels and their goods, such as waste. Currently all waste discharged from international vessels is managed as biosecurity waste under a DAFF Approved Arrangement.

DAFF, in consultation with stakeholders, is committed to reducing landfill and supporting the resilience and sustainability of the maritime sector. The department invites international cruise and commercial vessels arriving in Australia, to participate in the DAFF Maritime Waste Recycling Pilot.

The DAFF Maritime Waste Recycling Pilot (DMWRP)

The DMWRP explores on-board cleaning and segregation requirements for recycling waste. This waste is then presented to biosecurity officers for inspection at the eligible first arrival port, or First Port of Entry (FPOE).

Operators that adhere to the cleaning and segregation guide will present waste for inspection that has a reduced biosecurity risk, allowing it to be released from biosecurity control and recycled. Waste that does not meet these requirements will continue to be managed under an Approved Arrangement.

Benefits to international vessels who participate in this Pilot include:

  • potential vessel cost savings to manage onboard waste for recycling
  • promote vessel’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions
  • reduce shipboard waste going to landfill
  • protect ecosystems and wildlife
  • conserve natural resources
  • influence future maritime waste recycling measures in Australia.

International cruise and commercial vessels seeking to join the DMWRP must submit a proposal request via email to conveyance.maritime@aff.gov.au.

The following information for each participating vessel must be included within the request:

  • number, IMO and name of participating vessel
  • voyage details and proposed waste discharge port/s
  • name of waste providers under an Approved Arrangement and recycle providers.

Upon consideration of the request, vessels will be provided additional information for the crew to follow, including the DMWRP Cleaning and Segregation Guide and Verification Form.

In order to participate in the DMWRP, you will need to:

  • submit a proposal request to conveyance.maritime@aff.gov.au (see above)
  • ensure your vessel can comply with the department's guide on how to clean and segregate eligible waste for recycling
  • ensure your crew are trained to recycle eligible waste per the provided guide
  • clean recyclable waste with hot water to remove biological matter and food residue
  • ensure segregation of waste for recycling is maintained throughout the voyage (from the international departure port to the vessel’s arrival at an Australian port)
  • for smaller volumes, place recyclables in bags, boxes or in bins located away from ineligible biosecurity waste
  • for larger volumes, segregate recyclables into bins, bulk bags, or bulk boxes on ISPM-15 wooden or plastic pallets
  • all recyclable material ‘Waste Discharge Inspection’ requests must be submitted in the Maritime & Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) as part of the Commercial Vessel Pre-Arrival Report or Cruise Vessel’s Pre-Arrival Report prior to arrival at first port in Australia
  • segregated recyclables must be clearly labelled before inspection by a biosecurity officer.

Operators of commercial and cruise vessels must comply with requirements administered by the department to protect against biosecurity risks.

As outlined in the department’s Cleaning and Segregation Guide, vessels can only clean and segregate the following materials for recycling treatment:

  • aluminium
  • plastic beverage containers, bottles and cups
  • hard plastic bottles and containers*
  • glass bottles and jars
  • tin and steel cans
  • clean cardboard and paper

*Containers which held dairy, eggs or meat are ineligible

To find out more about specific import conditions, visit BICON.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges are applied for services provided by the department, including:

  • Inspection of recyclable waste – fees

Resources and further information

  • DMWRP Cleaning and Segregation Guide (PDF - 975 KB)
  • DMWRP Cleaning and Segregation Guide (DOCX - 5.4 MB)
  • DMWRP Verification Report form (PDF - 139 KB)
  • DMWRP Verification Report form (DOCX - 237 KB)
  • DMWRP Frequently Asked Questions - Jan 2025 (PDF - 185 KB)
  • DMWRP Frequently Asked Questions - Jan 2025 (DOCX - 243 KB)
  • Waste recycling label for print (PNG - 52 KB)
    (Only to be used to label materials that have been released for recycling after an inspection. See the Cleaning and Segregation Guide for further information on correct label use.)

For further information on the DMWRP, please contact us at conveyance.maritime@aff.gov.au.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 24 January 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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