20 September 2023
Who does this notice affect?
All international Cruise Vessels, vessel agents, port operators and waste providers operating under the department’s Approved Arrangement.
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) is taking immediate action to cease the recycling of specified materials that are being unloaded off international cruise vessels due to increased biosecurity risks to Australia.
Only the following recyclable materials can continue to be offloaded for recycling treatment:
- Aluminium cans that contained non-dairy liquids for human consumption (such as soft drink, juices, mineral water and alcoholic beverages)
- Soft plastic bottles that contained non-dairy liquids for human consumption (such as soft drinks, juices, still and sparkling water and alcoholic beverages).
All other recyclable material must be disposed of as biosecurity waste by an approved waste provider under the department’s Approved Arrangements.
Further information
The department is conducting a Maritime Recycling Risk Assessment (MRRA) on other types of recyclable materials including but not limited to cardboard, hard plastics and glass. Cruise Industry stakeholders are invited to participate in the MRRA to provide comment and ensure that all proposed recycling risk pathways are considered in this risk assessment. If you are interested in participating in the MRRA, please email seaportsprogram@aff.gov.au by 13 October 2023.