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Please be advised that any cargo intended for disposal, recycling, recovery or similar purposes must be booked as waste cargo. This applies regardless of the commercial value of the material.
What does this mean?
Under the Basel Convention, the OECD Decision and the waste legislation of the countries concerned, waste cargo that is meant for disposal, recycling or similar purposes is classified in one of the following categories:
- Green-listed waste (non-hazardous)
- Amber-listed waste (hazardous)
Important information regarding waste cargo
Green-listed waste does not generally require approval from the competent environmental authorities (EPAs). However, a number of countries require a valid permit for import, export, transit and transhipment – including, but not limited to, China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye and Uruguay. Please confirm the requirements for your specific route before booking.
Amber-listed waste requires prior approval from the EPAs of all countries concerned – including origin, transit, transshipment and destination countries.
All bookings involving waste (hazardous or non-hazardous) must be clearly identified at the booking stage, using the correct Maersk commodity code:
- 001415– E-waste / scrap
- 002808– Batteries for disposal or recycling
- 002313– Metal scrap excluding e-waste
- 002811– Plastic waste / scrap
- 002803– Wastepaper
- 002810– Waste / scrap for recycling or disposal
Batteries for disposal or recycling, and e-waste containing batteries, must be booked under 002808 as dangerous goods, without exemption. E-waste that does not contain batteries is booked under 001415.
If you are unsure which code applies to your cargo, please contact your Maersk representative before booking.
Country specific rules
Please note that it is not sufficient that a material is not considered waste in the country of origin (e.g. the U.S. or South Korea). It must be recognized as non-waste in all countries enroute, including transit and transshipment countries.
Additionally, please consider that some countries (e.g. China, Türkiye) may require an import permit, import customs clearance or sales contract already at the booking stage, in the name of the parties of the future Bill of Lading.
Maersk specific rules
We are here to help and guide on your waste cargo. The following commodities are accepted by Maersk only if declared as hazardous waste / amber-listed waste:
- Black mass
- E-scrap
- E-waste
- Furnace dust
- Lead acid batteries
- Lead concentrate, dust, powder
- Lead plates
- NCM (nickel – cobalt – manganese)
- Metal concentrates, dust, powder
- Plastic waste containing hazardous material
- Zinc concentrate, dust, powder
Consequences of misdeclaration on shipments
If a shipment is found to be mis-declared, undeclared, or booked without prior approval and complete transboundary documentation, we are obligated to notify the relevant EPAs in all involved countries. Please be aware that a misdeclaration fee of USD 5,000 will apply.
Any shipment that is rejected, held, returned, restowed, or subject to penalties, delays, or additional costs due to misdeclaration will be at the customer’s full expense. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure all documentation is valid and submitted well in advance of booking confirmation.
Need assistance?
For guidance on the four commodities where bookings most often go wrong – e-waste, metal scrap, plastic scrap and wastepaper – please see our Customer Advisory on Waste and Scrap Cargo. If you have any questions about hazardous cargo waste, please see our page on shipping of Dangerous Goods at maersk.com/industry-sectors/dangerous-cargo.
For general assistance, please reach out to your local customer representative at Maersk. Our teams are standing by and ready to assist you.
We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring full compliance with international waste regulation, and look forward to working with you further, helping you connect your supply chain and logistics across the globe.
The information provided herein is for general guidance only and is based on Maersk’s interpretation of applicable international conventions and regulations. Regulatory authorities in different countries may interpret or apply such conventions and regulations differently, and requirements may change without notice. Maersk does not warrant or guarantee that following the guidance or instructions herein will ensure compliance with all applicable laws or prevent penalties, fines, or losses in any jurisdiction. Customers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in all relevant jurisdictions and are advised to seek independent legal or regulatory advice as needed.