Vital Waste Graphics

TRANSPORT AND TRADE

Export of waste as reported by Australia, in tonnes, 2001 Total exports represent 16 679 tonnes

The arrows are proportional to the volume of exported waste

B e l g i u m 7 2 0 8

A u s t r i a 5

U n i t e d K i n g d o m 9 8

F r a n c e 5 0

Australia

9 328

New Zealand

Source: Basel Convention

Export-Import case study Australia is not a big player in the waste trade, but a good percentage of its exports are shipped all the way to Europe. In 2000 Australia reported the export of 16 689 tonnes of waste (all classified as hazardous) to New Zealand, Belgium, Great Britain, France and Austria. More than half the waste consisted of used lead acid batteries, which were moved across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. Most of the rest of the waste (described as lead dross) was exported to Belgium. During that same period Australia imported 1600 tonnes of waste from New Zealand, Norway, French Antarctic and South Africa. This included mostly copper and lead compounds from New Zealand, selenium from Norway and house- hold waste from the French Antarctic base.

Norway

6 0 0

Australia

South Africa

60

New Zealand

1 5 0

French Antarctica

Import of waste as reported by Australia, in tonnes, 2001 Total imports represent 1 578 tonnes

The arrows are proportional to the volume of imported waste

Source: Basel Convention