COOs are regulated under the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985 (EHC Act).
- Find out more about the purpose of CCOs, how they are made and the CCO review
Five chemical control orders (CCOs) are in place in NSW for managing chemicals and chemical wastes that require extra regulation.
COOs are regulated under the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985 (EHC Act).
Aluminium smelting wastes, especially those originating from spent smelting pot liners and shot blast, may be hazardous due to:
These wastes require additional care, such as treatment prior to disposal.
The aluminium smelter wastes CCO (PDF 24KB) sets rules and triggers for licensing requirements relating to
The CCO also defines specific conditions that must be included on the licences including
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that are created through
Dioxins are considered a threat to human and environmental health because they are bioaccumulative, persistent, and toxic at very low concentrations.
Dioxins are listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (which Australia has ratified) and are managed in Australian through the National Dioxins Program. Australia generally has low levels of dioxins compared to other countries.
The dioxin-contaminated waste CCO (PDF 20KB) relates to only one member of this family: 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD), which is internationally classified as a known human carcinogen.
The CCO prohibits the disposal of 2,3,7,8-TCDD wastes. You must get a licence from the EPA for processing, storing, selling, distributing or conveying these wastes.
The CCO sets out the details of conditions that need to be included on the licences, such as
Organotin waste is mainly generated by the shipping industry during the removal of antifouling paint containing organotin chemicals. Organotin was once widely used as a pesticide to control the growth of algae and other organisms on ship hulls.
Using organotin marine paint has been prohibited since 2003, following an international agreement to phase it out; however, organotin waste can still occur at ship repair premises and in adjacent areas.
Organotin is toxic in the marine environment at extremely low concentrations and has been found to
The organotin waste CCO (PDF 23KB) only applies to wastes contaminated with organotin in marine paint. It defines the activities related to these wastes that require a licence including
Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) are a class of highly persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals that were once widely used in electrical products such as transformers, capacitors and light fittings.
PCBs are listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They were phased out in Australia by the end of 2009 under the National PCB Management Plan.
The PCB CCO (PDF 58KB) sets out requirements for managing PCB materials and wastes, including activities such as