Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) would like to remind all exporters of controls and permit requirements that can apply to exports of plastic, paper, and metal scrap/ waste from Canada to many countries. Canada implements its responsibilities for various International Agreements on waste through the Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Materials Regulations(XBR). It is important to note that the definition of a hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable material in the XBR captures many scrap/wastes commodities that are not commonly considered hazardous in Canada.
A waste or recyclable material is considered as hazardous in the XBR; and as such, its export is prohibited without a permit from ECCC if:
- its import has been prohibited by the country of destination.
- it is considered hazardous by the state of import or transit; or
- it is prohibited for import if certain requirements are not met.
The application of the XBR to scrap or waste shipments will likely continue to evolve as additional countries implement further rules and bans on various waste/scrap/recyclable material. Therefore, ensure you are aware of evolving controls around the World and comply with permit and other requirements applicable to exports of these wastes/scraps/recyclable materials. For example, effective January 10, 2022, Malaysia amended their Customs (Prohibition on Imports) Order 2017, to prohibit import into Malaysia of “mixed waste and scrap of miscellaneous paper or paperboard”, as well as new inspection requirements on other “recovered paper and paperboard”. Information on the new inspection requirements for paper shipments to Malaysia can be found here: Importation of Metal Scrap and Waste Paper | SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd. (sirim-qas.com.my)
Any shipments of hazardous wastes or hazardous recyclable materials rejected for import by a country may be subject to a return request, and enforcement measures may result in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Protection Act compliance and enforcement policy (Compliance and enforcement policy for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act – Canada.ca).
Please note that in general, scrap plastic, paper, and metal shipments moving between Canada and the USA, are only considered hazardous if they exhibit hazardous properties or contain hazardous materials. However, wastes controlled by the Basel Convention that transit through the USA to a Basel Convention Party are subject to export permit requirements.
View the waste classification user guide to identity the International Waste Classification Code (IWIC): Classify your hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials
For more information please visit the ECCC website at the link below.
For questions you may have on your commodity, destination, and XBR requirements, please contact
Waste Reduction and Management Division
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th Floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Email: notification@ec.gc.ca
Phone: 1-844-524-5295