Working with overseas recyclers

WEEE exported from New Zealand should only be sent to organisations where there are assurances they are operating safely. Overseas operators should have an independently accredited environmental management system. This could be any of the schemes identified in Table 12.

Even if an operator has an accreditation, it is important to request:

  • a copy of the certification – check it is still valid and it covers the recycling activities. It could be that only some activities or branches are certified under the environmental management system and they might not cover the recycling activities
  • a copy of the last two audit reports (for example, ISO 14001 is audited every six months, so by checking the latest audit reports you will be able to assess if the company has had any non-compliance with their environmental management system and what corrective action they have undertaken).

Any exports to overseas operators must be in line with the Basel requirements for trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes. See the Exporting hazardous WEEE section for more information.


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Last updated:15 March 2011