Waste Import and Export Control
Waste Paper Import and Export Control
Enhanced Waste Paper Import and Export Control
Our neighbouring countries (e.g. Indonesia and Malaysia, etc.) have tightened their import control on various types of waste paper. Moreover, the authority of the Mainland of China has banned the import of solid waste (including all waste paper) since end 2020. In view of the above, Hong Kong has enhanced its control on the re-export and export of waste paper.
Under the enhanced control, any person shall, before exporting or re-exporting waste paper from or via Hong Kong, submit in advance a declaration form and relevant documents to the EPD for record purposes. This is to prove that the waste paper shipments to be exported or re-exported meet the requirements under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) (Cap. 354). That means, the waste paper is (a) uncontaminated; and (b) exported or re-exported for the purpose of a reprocessing, recycling, recovery operation or the reuse of the waste. The submitted documents also facilitate the strengthening of information exchange between the EPD and relevant states of import and export, and endeavour to safeguard the legitimacy and smooth operation of the transboundary movements of the waste.
Guidelines on Import and Export Control of Waste Paper
The EPD has prepared a set of “Guidelines on Import and Export Control of Waste Paper” which lists out the details of requirements and issues to note regarding waste paper import and export control.
Guidelines on Import and Export Control of Waste Paper
Import of Waste Paper
Since there is no recycling facility in Hong Kong that can receive imported waste paper at present, generally speaking, except for the waste paper that is re-exported via Hong Kong to other places for recycling, all waste paper shall not be imported into Hong Kong.
Export and Re-export of Waste Paper
Any person shall, before exporting or re-exporting waste paper from or via Hong Kong, submit in advance a declaration form and relevant documents to the EPD for record purposes. This is to prove that the waste paper shipments to be exported or re-exported meet the requirements under the WDO, and import permission or equivalent confirmation has been obtained from the authority of the place of import.
Declaration forms, "Notice to Declarant" and sample declaration forms can be downloaded from the hyperlinks below.
a) Declaration for Export of Waste Paper
i) Declaration Form for Export of Waste Paper; ii)Notice to Declarant; iii) Sample Declaration Form
b) Declaration for Re-export of Waste Paper
i) Declaration Form for Re-export of Waste Paper; ii) Notice to Declarant; iii) Sample Declaration Form
Submission of Declaration Form
Please submit the completed declaration form and relevant documents to the EPD by email (wasteimportandexport@epd.gov.hk) as far as practicable, and fill in the subject of the email by "Declaration for Export of Waste Paper" or "Declaration for Re-export of Waste Paper". Electronic submission can expedite the processing by facilitating our follow-up with the authorities of the places of import and export and other organizations.
Declaration form and relevant documents may also be mailed/ faxed /submitted in person by the following means:
Waste Paper Export and Re-export Declaration Verification System
In order to allow the trade to verify acknowledgement letters issued by the EPD, the EPD has launched an online verification system. Once a valid reference number is entered on the website, part of the information of the relevant acknowledgement letter issued in the past 4 months will be displayed for verification. The system can be accessed via the following hyperlink:
https://epdwasteiedeclarationcheck.hk/
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