Protecting our biodiversity, borders and ecosystems from biological threats is imperative for Australia’s people, industries and environment. Biosecurity legislation is complex and constantly evolving, making it difficult for businesses to meet their obligations. SUEZ offers effective and comprehensive biosecurity waste management solutions for our customers.
Safeguarding biosecurity
Safe and reliable management of a diversity of biosecurity waste
Any item deemed unsuitable to enter Australia without prior treatment due to the risk of potential biological threat can be classified as biosecurity waste.
Biosecurity waste comes in many forms
In Australia, a wide range of items are considered as biosecurity waste, such as:
packing materials
human, animal or plant waste
galley, food and other waste from overseas vessels
refuse or sweepings from overseas vessel holds
pallets infected by exotic pests
imported pig meat
soils
sludges
putrescible waste and leachate
other waste or material that comes into contact with biosecurity waste
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources airport amnesty bin contents, and
articles that have been seized by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and/or not collected by clients.
Biosecurity processes
Meeting your biosecurity obligations
There are three key steps in ensuring that your biosecurity waste in managed in accordance with the relevant legislation.
1.
Hold or attain the required licence for your activity
2.
Get in touch with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for instructions and direction notices
3.
Contact SUEZ to arrange the classification, transport and disposal of your waste
The creation of the Biosecurity Act 2015 delivered some critical changes to the regulation of biosecurity waste across the nation.
Biosecurity waste was previously known as quarantine waste and was administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under the Quarantine Act 1908.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 replaced the Quarantine Act in 2016, laying out new requirements, legislation and obligations for the handling, storage, preparation and transportation of biosecurity waste. Managed by the Department of Agriculture and Resources, it constitutes a cohesive national approach to managing biosecurity waste in partnership with State and Territory governments.
Up to the challenge
Equipped and ready to solve your biosecurity waste challenges
With extensive expertise and the right licencing and equipment, SUEZ offers flexible and tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each customer and site.
Licensed to lead
We’re fully licensed to meet all your biosecurity waste needs. We work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the relevant state authorities to ensure we’re always across the latest requirements and threats, helping you to meet your regulatory obligations.
Expert help
Once you have prepared your waste and gained the relevant biosecurity and environmental authority approvals, we work side by side with you to appropriately classify your waste. We then transport it to an approved biosecurity treatment or disposal site to be safely processed. Please note that 48 hours’ notice is required for biosecurity waste services.
Backed by infrastructure
Our specialised equipment for biosecurity waste includes licensed vacuum tankers to pump large volumes of biosecurity waste from tanks, pits and 205-litre drums, mobile garbage bins and open skip bins of varying sizes, and refrigerated and non-refrigerated waste compactors.
