The Australian government has fined a company almost AU$20,000 for hiding e-waste in a container exported to Singapore, part of a broader crackdown on the illegal export of hazardous waste.
The container was shipped by Melbourne-based e-waste recycling company Weeebytes Pty Ltd. and was intercepted by Singapore authorities on February 24.
The shipment was found to have large quantities of crushed hard drives, printed circuit boards, solar inverters, lithium-ion batteries, electrical power sources and old transmitters.
Weeebytes did not properly declare the e-waste and did not obtain an export permit under the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, despite being aware of export requirements for hazardous waste.
Weeebytes was required to return the container to Australia, arrange for lawful disposal of the e-waste at their own expense and to pay a fine of $19,800 for the export of hazardous waste without a permit.
“The Australian government takes the export of hazardous e-waste without a permit very seriously,” said a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW).
“Many electrical products contain hazardous substances including heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and flame retardants, many of which are persistent organic pollutants.
“If disposed of improperly, these substances can enter drinking water and soil, leading to serious human health concerns.
“The department is strengthening its monitoring and detection capabilities to disrupt and respond to the illegal export of regulated waste.”
The DCCEEW are conducting more port inspections and working with other government agencies to identify suspicious consignment.
The spokesperson warned individuals and organisations to follow e-waste guidelines or face significant penalties.