Waste Guidelines

Waste definitions
Updated April 2019

EPA 842/19: This guideline provides definitions for a range of terms commonly used within the waste industry. It also
reflects changes included in the Environmental management of landfill facilities – solid waste disposal (2019), which
incorporates the following definitions of ‘landfill’ and ‘suitably qualified consultant’.

Introduction
Almost all the definitions have been sourced from Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licences, existing publications,
legislation and Australian Standards. The remainder are the result of modifications to standard terminology to ensure
clarity and relevance, or were developed based on recommendations from an industry reference group.

This publication will be applied by the EPA in developing new licences, licence conditions and guidelines. Existing
licences will be progressively updated to reflect the new definitions.

Definitions

Term Definition

Asbestos The fibrous form of mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of rock-
forming minerals, including actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos), anthophyllite, chrysotile (white
asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, or any mixture containing one or more of the
mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups.

Asbestos-containing material is any, material, object, product or debris that contains

asbestos.

Friable asbestos means:

a non-bonded asbestos fabric, or

b asbestos-containing material that:

i is in the form of powder, or

ii can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.

Non-friable asbestos means asbestos-containing material in which the asbestos fibres are
bonded by cement, vinyl, resin or other similar material, eg asbestos cement.

Asbestos Waste means waste asbestos-containing material (ACM) including all removed
ACM, as well as disposable items used during asbestos removal work, such as plastic sheeting
and disposable coveralls, respirators and cleaning rags.

Environment Protection Authority

Waste definitions

Term Definition

Advice on the requirements for handling and transport of this waste can be found in EPA
Guideline, Wastes containing asbestos: removal, transport and disposal.

See also Approved codes of practice under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

Basel Convention The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal. Adopted in Basel, Switzerland on 22 March 1989.

Biodegradable Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological processes

Biosolids Stabilised organic solids derived totally or in part from wastewater treatment processes that
can be managed safely to utilise beneficially their nutrient, soil conditioning, energy, or other
value. The term biosolids does not include untreated wastewater sludges, industrial sludges or
the product produced from the high temperature incineration of sewage sludge. It should also
be noted that many other solid waste materials are not classified as biosolids eg animal
manures, food processing or abattoir wastes, solid inorganic wastes and untreated sewage or
untreated wastes from septic systems/sullage wastes.

Building or Construction and Demolition Waste (Inert)

Demolition Waste

Cleaner Continuous use of maintenance management practices and technologies used in the
production manufacture of products and provision of services resulting in more efficient use of resources
(including energy) and the reduction of waste and risk to the environment.

Clinical and Medical Waste

Related Waste

Commercial and Commercial and Industrial Waste (General)

Industrial Waste
The solid component of the waste stream arising from commercial, industrial, government,
(C&I)
public or domestic premises (not collected as Municipal Solid Waste), but does not contain
Listed Waste, Hazardous Waste or Radioactive Waste.

Commercial and Industrial Waste (Listed)

The solid component of the waste stream arising from commercial, industrial, government,
public or domestic premises (not collected as Municipal Solid Waste), that contains or consists
of Listed Waste.

Compost Pasteurised material resulting from the controlled microbiological transformation of

compostable organic waste under aerobic and thermophilic conditions for at least six weeks.

Compostable The biodegradable component of the waste stream that is of biological origin but does not
Organic Waste contain any Listed Waste, Radioactive Waste or Hazardous Waste.

Notes:

These organic materials may be processed through composting works to formulate valuable
recycled organic products.

Suitability of compostable organic waste as feedstock is dependent on the location, site design,
processes and potential to cause environmental harm.

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Term Definition

Composting The controlled process whereby compostable organic wastes are pasteurised and
microbiologically transformed under aerobic and thermophilic conditions for a period not less
than six weeks, including the pasteurisation phase.

Construction and Construction and Demolition Waste (inert)

Demolition Waste
The solid inert component of the waste stream arising from the construction, demolition or
(C&D)
refurbishment of buildings or infrastructure but does not contain Municipal Solid Waste,
Commercial and Industrial Waste (General), Listed Waste, Hazardous Waste or Radioactive
Waste.

Notes:

C&D waste (Inert) should be such that the entire composition of the C&D materials is Inert
Waste with no contamination by foreign material. As such it is acknowledged that – with the
aim of no contamination – there may be some negligible components of foreign material
contained in the waste (as a guide, 0−5% maximum by volume per load). C&D waste (Inert)
includes bricks, concrete, tiles and ceramics, steel and inert soils.

Foreign material includes green waste, plastics, electrical wiring, timber, paper, insulation, tins,
packaging and other waste associated with construction or demolition of a building or other
infrastructure. Foreign material must not be Municipal Solid Waste, Liquid, Listed, Hazardous
or Radioactive Waste.

Construction and Demolition Waste (mixed)

The solid component of waste stream arising from the construction, demolition or refurbishment
of buildings or infrastructure which contains some foreign material (as set out below), but does
not contain Municipal Solid Waste, Commercial and Industrial Waste (General), Listed Waste,
Hazardous Waste or Radioactive Waste.

Notes:

C&D Waste is considered C&D Waste (Mixed) if it contains significant foreign materials from
construction and demolition activities that would render the load of waste no longer inert (as a
guide, 5−25% maximum by volume per load).

Foreign material includes green waste, plastics, electrical wiring, timber, paper, insulation, tins,
packaging and other waste associated with construction or demolition of a building or other
infrastructure. Foreign material must not be Municipal Solid Waste, Liquid, Listed, Hazardous
or Radioactive Waste.

Where waste from construction and demolition sites contains predominantly foreign materials
or domestic waste, such as waste from household clean ups collected by commercial skip bins,
this is defined as Commercial and Industrial Waste (General).

Controlled Waste Waste as defined in the National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Wastes
between States and Territories) Measure 1998

Disposal Final stage in the management of waste, which includes:

• treatment of waste prior to disposal

• incineration of waste, with or without energy recovery

• deposit of waste to land or water

• discharge of liquid waste to sewer

• permanent, indefinite or long-term storage of waste.

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Waste definitions

Term Definition

Note: Long-term storage of waste includes waste stored for a period of time that is not
considered temporary by the EPA, whether for a defined period or not, and for which there is no
known or foreseeable market for resource recovery.

Dispose To dispose of waste, including the deposit of waste and causing or allowing waste to be
disposed or deposited.

Domestic Waste Means the waste produced in the course of a domestic activity.

Dry Cleaning The waste generated by dry cleaning activities (chemical or organic).
Residues

Encapsulation A process that creates a structure that completely surrounds sealed containers of waste by
concrete or another solid material approved in writing by the EPA, to reduce the likelihood of
the formation of leachate by physically limiting water from contacting the waste or the
container.

E-waste Waste electrical and electronic equipment that is dependent on electric currents or
electromagnetic fields in order to function (including all components, subassemblies and
consumables which are part of the original equipment at the time of discarding). For example
e-waste may include:

a Consumer/entertainment electronics (eg televisions, DVD players and tuners).

b Devices of office, information and communications technology (eg computers,

c telephones and mobile phones).

d Household appliances (eg fridges, washing machines and microwaves).

e Lighting devices (eg desk lamps).

f Power tools (eg power drills) with the exclusion of stationary industrial devices.

g Devices used for sport and leisure including toys (eg fitness machines and remote
control cars).

Extended An environmental policy approach where the producers’ responsibility, physical and/or
producer financial, for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle.
responsibility
Notes:
(EPR)
Producers accept their responsibility when they design their products to minimize life cycle
impacts and when they accept legal, physical and/or economic responsibility for the
environmental impacts that cannot be eliminated by design. A primary function of EPR is the
transfer of the costs and/or physical responsibility (full or partial) of waste management away
from local government authorities and the general taxpayer to that of the producer.

EPR can be government driven via regulation or through voluntary initiatives whereby
producers take responsibility for managing the end-of-life aspects of their products.

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 Waste definitions

Term Definition

Flammable The range of a gas or vapour concentration that will burn or explode if an ignition source is
(explosive) range introduced.

Lower explosive limit (LEL): The lowest concentration of a gas in air (% of volume) that will
ignite.

Upper explosive limit (UEL): The highest concentration of a gas in air (% of volume) that will
ignite.

Green Waste The vegetative portion of the waste stream arising from various sources including waste from
domestic and commercial premises and municipal operations.

Hazardous Waste Listed waste having a characteristic described in schedule A list 2 of the National Environment
Protection (Movement of controlled waste between States and Territories) Measure.

Note: Hazardous Waste includes any unwanted or discarded material (excluding radioactive
material), which because of its physical, chemical or infectious characteristics can cause
significant hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored,
transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.

Hexachloro- HCB waste means any waste liquid, sludge or solid (including waste articles and containers)
benzene (HCB) containing HCB. HCB has the chemical formula C6Cl6.
Waste
Scheduled HCB waste means all waste materials in Appendix A (of the Hexachlorobenzene
Waste Management Plan 1996) or any liquid, sludge or solid (including waste articles and
containers) containing 50 mg/kg or more of HCB occurring in or on the premises or having
migrated from the premises.

Hexachlorobenzene Waste Management Plan 1996: www.nepc.gov.au/resource/ephc-archive-

hexachlorobenzene-waste-management-plan

Incineration The thermal destruction of waste for the primary purpose of disposal, with or without recovery
of energy.

Note: The term incineration generally means ‘the act of burning to ashes’ however the above
definition is the meaning used by the EPA in relation to waste.

Inert Waste The management of the entire waste process including generation, storage, collection,
transportation, resource recovery, treatment and disposal. Integrated waste management
employs several waste control methods based on the waste hierarchy including avoidance,
reduction, recycling, reuse, recovery, treatment and disposal, aimed at minimising the
environmental impact of waste.

Integrated waste The management of the entire waste process including generation, storage, collection,
management transportation, resource recovery, treatment and disposal. Integrated waste management
employs several waste control methods based on the waste hierarchy including avoidance,
reduction, recycling, reuse, recovery, treatment and disposal, aimed at minimising the
environmental impact of waste.

Kerbside Means Green Waste collected during the regular domestic council waste collection.
Collected Green
Waste

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Waste definitions

Term Definition

Kerbside Means the segregated portion of Municipal Solid Waste – Kerbside bin collection consisting of
Collected dry recyclable materials including beverage containers, paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and
Recyclable metals
Material

Landfill A waste disposal site used for the controlled deposit of solid waste onto or into land

Landfill closure A written document which specifies the closure activities, post-closure activities and quality
and post closure assurance procedures for a landfill activity, including progressive closure of landfill cells,
plans leachate management, landfill gas management and monitoring in order to prevent or minimise
the risk of harm to the environment or human health from a closed landfill.

Leachate A liquid that has percolated through and/or been generated by decomposition of waste
material. It includes water that comes into contact with waste and is potentially contaminated
by nutrients, metals, salts and other soluble or suspended components and products of
decomposition of the waste.

Liquid Waste Waste classified as liquid waste in accordance with the assessment process set out in the
guideline Liquid waste classification test (2003).

Note: Liquid waste includes any waste that is liquid at 20oC regardless of whether or not it is
packaged or otherwise contained, and irrespective of whether or not the packaging or container
is to be disposed of together with the liquid that it contains.

Listed Waste Means wastes listed in Part B of Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Act 1993.

Materials A depot for the treatment of waste for resource recovery, other than a composting depot.
Recovery Facility
(MRF)

Municipal Solid Municipal Solid Waste – Kerbside Bin Collection

Waste (MSW)
The solid component of the waste stream arising from mainly domestic but also commercial,
industrial, government and public premises including waste from council operations, services
and facilities that is collected by or on behalf of the council via kerbside collection, but does not
contain Commercial and Industrial Waste (General), Listed Waste, Hazardous Waste or
Radioactive Waste.

Organochlorine Waste containing those organochlorine pesticides which were originally sold for use as
Pesticide (OCP) pesticides, or breakdown products of those pesticides, as listed in Appendix A of the
Waste Organochlorine Pesticides Waste Management Plan 1999.

Scheduled OCP Waste means waste containing OCPs at levels at or in excess of the
threshold concentration (50 mg/kg) and threshold quantity (50 g).

Non-scheduled OCP Waste means waste containing OCPs at levels below the threshold
concentration (50 mg/kg) or threshold quantity (50 g) and above the concentration level defined
as exempt OCP waste.

Exempt OCP Waste including the residues of destruction processes, means waste containing
OCPs at 2 mg/kg or less.

Organochlorine Pesticides Waste Management Plan 1999:

www.nepc.gov.au/archive/anzecc/index.html#reports1999

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 Waste definitions

Term Definition

Pasteurisation A process whereby organic materials are treated to significantly reduce the numbers of plant
and animal pathogens and plant propagules.

Pasteurised An organic product that has undergone pasteurisation but is relatively immature and lacking in
product stability.

Polychlorinated PCB is a substance in which the biphenyl structure has chlorine atoms substituted for hydrogen
Biphenyl (PCB) atoms at varying degrees. PCB has the chemical formula C12H10-nCln where ‘n’ is 1−10.
Waste
Scheduled PCB waste means any material (including material in equipment) that has no
further use and that contains PCBs at levels at or in excess of the threshold concentration (50
mg/kg) and threshold quantity (50 g).

Non-scheduled PCB waste means any material (including material in equipment) that has no
further use and that contains PCBs at levels below the threshold concentration (50mg/kg) or
threshold quantity (50 g) and above the concentration level defined as PCB free.

PCB–free means material or waste containing PCBs at a concentration of 2 mg/kg or less.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls Management Plan 2003:

www.nepc.gov.au/archive/anzecc/index.html#reports2003

Putrescible Waste The component of the waste stream liable to become putrid. For example: organic matter that
has the potential to decompose with the formation of malodorous substances, usually refers to
vegetative, food and animal products

Pyrolysis The endothermic chemical decomposition of a condensed substance by the action of heat,
which does not involve reactions with oxygen or any other reagents but may take place in their
presence; chemical reaction initiated by molecular breakdown at high temperature.

Quarantine Waste Quarantine Waste means material or goods of quarantine concern as determined by the
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and which is subject to and or identified
under Commonwealth Legislation (Biosecurity Act 2015) and associated regulations and
proclamations.

This includes:

a material used to pack and stabilise imported goods

b galley food and other waste from overseas vessels

c human, animal or plant waste brought into Australia

d refuse or sweepings from a hold of an overseas vessel

e any other waste or other material, which comes into contact with Quarantine Waste

f contents of AQIS airport amnesty bins

g articles seized by AQIS and/or not collected by clients.

Biosecurity Act 2015: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017C00303

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Waste definitions

Term Definition

Radioactive Any radioactive substance in the form of a solid, liquid or gas (or combination thereof) that is left
Waste over, surplus or an unwanted byproduct of any business or domestic activity, whether of value
or not, but excluding the following:

a substances to which the regulations under the Radiation Protection and Control Act
1982 do not apply

b substances that have been exempted from regulatory control under provisions of the
Radiation Protection and Control Act

c material containing activities or activity concentrations of radioactive elements below

the exemption levels specified in the National Directory for Radiation Protection
published by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.

Recovery A process that extracts materials or energy from the waste stream.

Recycle/recycling Set of processes (including biological) for converting recovered materials that would otherwise
be disposed of as wastes into useful materials and or products. The following definitions apply:

a Closed loop recycling: recycling process in which the reclaimed output is used as an
input to the same product system.

b Open loop recycling: recycling process in which the reclaimed output is used as an
input to another product system.

Recycled Materials recovered and manufactured into products.

materials

Recycling stream The component of the waste stream that is separated from waste intended for disposal, which is
then sorted and recycled.

Resource In relation to waste, means –

Recovery
a reusing the waste; or

b recycling the waste; or

c recovering energy and other resources from the waste.

Reuse Using a waste product again for the same or a different purpose without further manufacture,
eg use of second-hand boxes for packing goods or for storage of household goods.

Note: The terms 'reuse' and 'recycle' are not synonymous.

Scheduled Waste A material or article containing a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, exceeding the threshold
concentration and threshold quantity (see the relevant specific scheduled waste management
plan), which is:

a organic in nature

b resistant to degradation by chemical, physical or biological means

c toxic to humans, animals, vegetation or aquatic life

d bioaccumulative in humans, flora and fauna

e listed on Schedule X.

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 Waste definitions

Term Definition

Note: For scheduled wastes, their management plans and Schedule X, refer to Australian
Government Department of Environment and Water Resources:
www.environment.gov.au/protection/chemicals-management/scheduled-waste

Secondary Waste materials or waste objects recovered from the waste stream that can be used to provide
Resources energy and materials for reuse and recycling.

Solid Waste Any waste that is not gaseous and is not a Liquid Waste as determined by EPA Guideline,
Liquid waste classification test (2003):
https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/files/8425_guide_liquidwaste.pdf.

Source Physical sorting of the waste at the point of generation into specific components suitable for
separation resource recovery from the residual component.

Suitably qualified A person who holds relevant qualifications, has demonstrated professional experience and
consultant expertise encompassing an appropriate range of competencies and is a registered member of
one of the following or equivalent professional organisations:

1 The Institution of Engineers Australia

2 The Association of Consulting Engineers Australia

3 The Australian Contaminated Land Consultants Association Incorporated.

Transfer Station A depot for the reception and aggregation of waste streams prior to their transport to another
depot or location for further sorting, resource recovery or disposal.

Used tyres Used whole tyres and used tyre pieces exceeding 250 mm in any dimension.

Waste As defined under the Environment Protection Act 1993,

Waste means –

a any discarded, rejected, abandoned, unwanted or surplus matter, whether or not

intended for sale or for recycling, reprocessing, recovery or purification by a separate
operation from that which produced the matter; or

b anything declared by regulation (after consultation under section 5A) or by an

environment protection policy to be waste,

whether of value or not.

Waste Fill As defined in the Environment Protection Regulations 2009 waste fill means: waste consisting of
clay, concrete, rock, sand, soil or other inert mineralogical matter in pieces not exceeding
100 mm in length and containing chemical substances in concentrations (calculated in a manner
determined by the Authority) less than the concentrations for those substances set out in
Schedule 6 but does not include waste consisting of or containing asbestos or bitumen.

The Waste Fill chemical criteria are specified in Schedule 6 of the Environment Protection
Regulations 2009:
https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/R/Environment%20Protection%20Regulations%202009.
aspx

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Waste definitions

Attachment 1 Listed Waste as set out in Part B of Schedule 1 of the

Environment Protection Act 1993
Waste codes can be found in Waste transport certificate (EPA 2002).

Waste stream or waste having as constituents:

Acids and acidic solutions

Adhesives (excluding solid inert polymeric materials)

Alkali metals and alkaline earth metals

Alkalis and alkaline solutions

Antimony and antimony compounds and solutions

Arsenic and arsenic compounds and solutions

Asbestos

Barium compounds and solutions

Beryllium and beryllium compounds

Boron and boron compounds

Cadmium and cadmium compounds and solutions

Calcium carbide

Carbon disulfide

Carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens

Chlorates

Chromium compounds and solutions

Copper compounds and solutions

Cyanides or cyanide solutions and cyanide complexes

Cytotoxic wastes

Dangerous substances within the meaning of the Dangerous Substances Act 1979

Distillation residues

Fluoride compounds

Halogens

Heterocyclic organic compounds containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur

Hydrocarbons and their oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur compounds (including oils)

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 Waste definitions

Isocyanate compounds (excluding solid inert polymeric materials)

Laboratory chemicals

Lead compounds and solutions

Lime sludges or slurries

Manganese compounds

Medical waste consisting of:

a a needle, syringe with needle, surgical instrument or other article that is discarded in the course of medical*,
dental or veterinary practice or research and has a sharp edge or point capable of inflicting a penetrating injury
on a person who comes into contact with it; or

b human tissue, bone, organ, body part or foetus; or

c a vessel, bag or tube containing a liquid body substance; or

d an animal carcass discarded in the course of veterinary or medical* practice or research; or

e a specimen or culture discarded in the course of medical*, dental or veterinary practice or research and any
material that has come into contact with such a specimen or culture; or

f any other article or matter that is discarded in the course of medical*, dental or veterinary practice or research
and that poses a significant risk to the health of a person who comes into contact with it.

*medical practice includes the practice of pathology and the operation of an immunisation clinic.

Mercaptans

Mercury compounds and equipment containing mercury

Nickel compounds and solutions

Nitrates

Organic halogen compounds (excluding solid inert polymeric materials)

Organic phosphates

Organic solvents

Organometallic residues

Oxidising agents

Paint sludges and residues

Perchlorates

Peroxides

Pesticides (including herbicides and fungicides)

Pharmaceutical wastes and residues

Phenolic compounds (excluding solid inert polymeric materials)

Phosphorus and its compounds

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Waste definitions

Polychlorinated biphenyls

Poisons within the meaning of the Drugs Act 1908

Reactive chemicals

Reducing agents

Selenium and selenium compounds and solutions

Silver compounds and solutions

Solvent recovery residues Sulfdes and sulfide solutions

Surfactants

Thallium and thallium compounds and solutions

Vanadium compounds

Zinc compounds and solutions

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 Waste definitions

Attachment 2 Hazardous Waste Characteristics as described in

Appendix 2 of the Hazardous Waste Strategy 2006−10

Dangerous UN
Goods Class Code
(UN Class*)

1 H1 Explosive

An explosive substance or waste is a solid or liquid substance or waste (or mixture of

substances or wastes) which is in itself capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at
such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the
surroundings.

3 H3 Flammable liquids

The word ‘flammable’ has the same meaning as ‘inflammable’. Flammable liquids are
liquids, or mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension (for
example, paints, varnishes, lacquers, etc, but not including substances or wastes otherwise
classified on account of their dangerous characteristics) which give off flammable vapour at
temperatures of not more than 60.5°C, close-cup test, or not more than 65.6°C, open-cup
test. (Since the results of open-cup tests and of closed-cup tests are not strictly comparable
and even individual results by the same test are often variable, regulations varying from the
above figures to make allowances for such differences would be within the spirit of the
definition.)

4.1 H4.1 Flammable solids

Solids or waste solids, other than those classified as explosives, which under conditions
encountered in transport are readily combustible, or may cause or contribute to fire
through friction.

4.2 H4.2 Substances or wastes liable to spontaneous combustion

Substances or wastes which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal conditions
encountered in transport, or to heating up in contact with air, and being then liable to
catch fire.

4.3 H4.3 Substances or wastes which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

Substances or wastes which, by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously
flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities.

5.1 H5.1 Oxidising

Substances or wastes which, while in themselves not necessarily combustible, may,

generally by yielding oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials.

5.2 H5.2 Organic peroxides

Organic substances or wastes which contain the bivalent OO structure are thermally
unstable substances which may undergo exothermic self-accelerating decomposition.

6.1 H6.1 Poisonous (acute)

Substances or wastes liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm human
health if swallowed or inhaled or by skin contact.

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Waste definitions

Dangerous UN
Goods Class Code
(UN Class*)

6.2 H6.2 Infectious substances

Substances or wastes containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known
or suspected to cause disease in animals or humans.

8 H8 Corrosives

Substances or wastes which, by chemical action, will cause severe damage when in
contact with living tissue, or in the case of leakage, will materially damage, or evendestroy,
other goods or the means of transport; they may also cause other hazards.

9 H10 Liberation of toxic gases in contact with air or water

Substances or wastes which, by liberation with air or water, are liable to give off toxic
gases in dangerous quantities.

9 H11 Toxic (delayed or chronic)

Substances or wastes which, if they are inhaled or ingested, or if they penetrate the skin,
may involve delayed or chronic effects, including carcinogenicity.

9 H12 Ecotoxic

Substances or wastes which, if released, present or may present immediate or delayed

adverse impacts to the environment by means of bioaccumulation and/or toxic effects
upon biotic systems.

9 H13 Capable of yielding another material which possesses H1–H12

Capable by any means, after disposal, of yielding another material (eg leachate) which
possesses any of the characteristics listed above.

Other reasons

Potential to have a significant adverse impact on ambient air quality.

Potential to have a significant adverse impact on ambient marine, estuarine or fresh water
quality.

* UN Class and Code relates to the hazard classification system included in the United Nations Recommendations on
the Transport of Dangerous Goods as used in Australia.

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 Waste definitions

Attachment 3 Waste Fill Chemical Criteria as listed in Schedule 6 of

the Environment Protection Regulations 2009
Note: refer to the complete definition of Waste Fill to which this Schedule is attached, which includes physical
characteristics.

Concentrations of chemical substances in waste

Chemical substance Concentrations (mg per kg of waste)

Aldrin/dieldrin (total) 2

Arsenic 20

Barium 300

Benzene 1

Benzo(a)pyrene 1

Beryllium 20

Cadmium 3

Cobalt 170

Chlordane 2

Chromium (III) 400

Chromium (VI) 1

Copper 60

Cyanides (total) 500

DDT 2

Ethylbenzene 3.1

Heptachlor 2

Lead 300

Manganese 500

Mercury 1

Nickel 60

Petroleum hydrocarbons TPH C6-C9 65

(total)

Petroleum hydrocarbons TPH>C9 1,000

Phenolic compounds (total) 0.5

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Disclaimer
This publication is a guide only and does not necessarily provide adequate information in relation to every situation. This
publication seeks to explain your possible obligations in a helpful and accessible way. In doing so, however, some detail
may not be captured. It is important, therefore, that you seek information from the EPA itself regarding your possible
obligations and, where appropriate, that you seek your own legal advice.

Further information
Legislation

Online legislation is freely available. Copies of legislation are available for purchase from:

Service SA Government Legislation Outlet

Adelaide Service SA Centre
108 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000

Telephone: 13 23 24
Facsimile: (08) 8204 1909
Website: shop.service.sa.gov.au
Email: ServiceSAcustomerservice@sa.gov.au

General information

Environment Protection Authority

GPO Box 2607
Adelaide SA 5001

Telephone: (08) 8204 2004

Facsimile: (08) 8124 4670
Freecall: 1800 623 445 (country)
Website: www.epa.sa.gov.au
Email: epainfo@sa.gov.au

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