Process Management System (PMS)
for the
Burial of Quarantine Waste
T +61 2 6272 3933
F +61 2 6272 5161
18 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra City ACT 2601
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
agriculture.gov.au
ABN 24 113 085 695
Contents
1. Purpose................................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Scope ................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Definitions ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Controlled Burial ................................................................................................................................. 4
Deep Burial .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Landfill site .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Overseas Vessel ................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Prerequisites........................................................................................................................................ 4
5. Management Responsibilities ............................................................................................................. 4
6. Training ................................................................................................................................................ 5
7 Organisation ......................................................................................................................................... 5
7.1 The Other Party must nominate positions (and backup positions) for responsibilities identified
in this document with *. Only Approved Persons may hold these responsibilities. i.e., The *
position (backup position) ................................................................................................................... 5
7.2 General Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 5
8. Requirements ...................................................................................................................................... 5
8.1 Waste Receival .............................................................................................................................. 5
8.2 Burial ............................................................................................................................................. 6
8.3 Spillage or loss ............................................................................................................................... 7
9. Recordkeeping ..................................................................................................................................... 7
10. Amendments To the PMS.................................................................................................................. 7
Attachment 1....................................................................................................................................... 7
Burial Quarantine Waste Log Sheet ................................................................................................ 7
Transport: ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Quarantine Waste: .......................................................................................................................... 8
Attachment 2....................................................................................................................................... 8
Document Revision Status Table ..................................................................................................... 8
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Documentation
For the Burial of Quarantine Waste
Documentation identified in the 'Table of Schedules' (located at the rear of the Burial of Quarantine
Waste Schedule) constitutes the Compliance Agreement and Operational Procedures Statements for
the Burial of Quarantine Waste Schedule. The Other Party should be familiar with the contents of all
documents.
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1. Purpose
This document sets out the procedures for the burial of quarantine waste to prevent the introduction
of diseases and exotic pests into Australia.
2. Scope
The scope of this scheme is limited to the controlled burial and deep burial of quarantine waste in
accordance with the requirements of this Schedule.
3. Definitions
Definitions that are not contained within the Approved Arrangements Glossary, available on the
department’s website, can be found in the most recent edition of the Macquarie Dictionary or in the
Quarantine Act 1908 (the Act).
The following definitions apply to this document:
Controlled Burial
Burial of aircraft galley waste at a Landfill site with immediate coverage of at least 1 metre of non
quarantine waste material prior to compaction, and end of day coverage of soil to a depth of at least
150 millimetres.
Deep Burial
Burial of quarantine waste at a Landfill site with immediate coverage of at least 2 metres of non
quarantine waste material prior to compaction.
Landfill site
A Class 8.2 Quarantine Approved Premises (Deep and Controlled Burial Waste Facility).
Overseas Vessel
A vessel other than:


An Australian vessel; or
A Cocos Islands vessel, which includes a vessel, that is on a voyage from Australia to the
Cocos Islands or from the Cocos Islands to Australia.
4. Prerequisites
The landfill facility that the Other Party intends to use for the burial of quarantine waste must be a
Class 8.2 Quarantine Approved Premises (Deep and Controlled Burial Waste Facility) unless
otherwise agreed with the department.
5. Management Responsibilities

The Other Party must ensure that only Approved Persons undertake activities relating to
quarantine waste as detailed in this Process Management System (PMS), and are fully aware
of the requirements of this agreement.
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
The * (insert position) is responsible for ensuring the implementation of and compliance
with the requirements of the PMS, including the department’s approved training of staff (see
6 ‘Training’).
6. Training
a. In order to become an Approved Person under this Burial of Quarantine Waste Scheme,
employees of the Other Party must undertake appropriate training.
b. For training to be deemed appropriate for the purposes of this Scheme, it must include
operational requirements specific to the Other Party as well as the following topics:
o Quarantine awareness training covering potential risks with quarantine waste;
o Secure methods of handling quarantine waste;
o Knowledge of the department’s requirements for deep burial of quarantine waste
and controlled burial of aircraft galley waste;
o Recognition and understanding of landfill site preparation and quarantine waste
disposal requirements;
o External factors that could influence the effectiveness of burial of quarantine waste
(e.g. birds, vermin, feral animals, etc);
o Changes to the PMS.
c. The * (insert position) will maintain an up to date Register of Trained Persons who have
received training.
7 Organisation
7.1 The Other Party must nominate positions (and backup positions) for responsibilities
identified in this document with *. Only Approved Persons may hold these responsibilities.
i.e., The * position (backup position)
7.2 General Responsibilities



The * (insert position) is responsible for ensuring records and documents required under this
Schedule are maintained and held at: [insert facility]
The * (insert position) will seek departmental approval in writing for amendments made to
the PMS
The * (insert position) will document amendments made to the PMS.
8. Requirements
8.1 Waste Receival
The * (insert position) is responsible for ensuring the following:


Quarantine waste can only be accepted from transport companies approved by the
department, except in circumstances where the quarantine waste is accompanied by a
departmental direction. The department will provide a list of approved transport companies.
The Department must be informed if the quarantine waste is received from a transport
company not approved by the department before any action taken.
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
A burial quarantine waste Log Sheet (as per Attachment 1) as a minimum must be kept for
every consignment of quarantine waste received.
8.2 Burial
The * (insert position) is responsible for ensuring all quarantine waste is buried as per the following
requirements:
a. Minimum Parameters
o A site for burial must be prepared prior to delivery of quarantine waste to the
Landfill site.
o Quarantine waste is to be directly discharged into the burial site.
o Tipped quarantine waste must be immediately covered with non quarantine waste
material, prior to compaction, to the following depths:


Deep burial 2 metres; or
Controlled burial 1 metre (for aircraft galley waste only).
o Compaction must not commence until the minimum cover has been placed over the
discharged quarantine waste.
o Landfill machinery must not be directly driven over uncovered quarantine waste.
o Waste which comes into contact with quarantine waste must be treated as
quarantine waste.
o The site of quarantine waste must never be re-exposed, moved or altered in any way
that could lead to the exposure of quarantine waste to the environment.
o Measures must be in place to prevent the loss of quarantine waste at the time of
burial (by wind, birds, vermin, feral animals, etc.).
o Active bird deterrent measures must be operational during the tipping, covering and
compaction of quarantine waste.
o A documented process for the control of leachate and gas formation must be
maintained and operating.
o The department must be contacted in any instance where the above requirements
for the burial of quarantine waste cannot be met, prior to any action being taken.
o A Burial Quarantine Waste Log Sheet (as per Attachment 1) as a minimum must be
kept for every consignment of quarantine waste buried.
b. Deep Burial
Quarantine waste must be disposed of by Deep Burial as follows:
o
Quarantine waste must be immediately covered by at least 2 metres of nonquarantine waste material, prior to any compaction.
c. Controlled Burial
Aircraft galley waste may be disposed of by Controlled Burial as follows:
o
o
Aircraft galley waste for controlled burial can only be delivered prior to 12:00 noon.
Aircraft galley waste must be immediately covered by at least 1 metre of non
quarantine waste material prior to compaction, and covered to a depth of at least
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150 mm by close of business each day with compacted non domestic (i.e. non
household) waste material.
8.3 Spillage or loss


Any spillage of quarantine waste must be immediately and thoroughly collected and the area
of the spillage disinfected by a thorough application of an Approved disinfectant.
Any major spillage or loss of quarantine waste is to be immediately reported to the
department. A major spillage is classified as a spillage of quarantine waste outside the
confines of a Quarantine Approved Premises, which can be accessed by the general public,
which cannot be readily cleaned up within fifteen minutes.
9. Recordkeeping


A Burial Quarantine Waste Log Sheet must be fully completed for every consignment of
waste.
Records must be kept for a minimum of twenty four months and be made available on
request to the department for audit purposes.
10. Amendments TO the PMS



The * (insert position) will seek the department’s approval in writing for all amendments to
be made to the PMS. No amendments are to be implemented without prior written approval
from the department.
The * (insert position) will document all amendments made to the PMS. Amendments must
be recorded in ink using the Document Revision Status Table.
Where the department notifies the company of mandatory changes to the PMS these will
also be recorded in the Document Revision Status Table.
Attachment 1
Burial Quarantine Waste Log Sheet
Transport:
Vehicle registration number
Waste Generator (Vessel Name/Aircraft Flight No.)
Collection Point–Name
Location
Delivery Company–Name
Location
Name (please print)
Signature
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Date received
Quarantine Waste:
Description (Galley and Cabin Waste, Dunnage, etc)
Quantity
Volume/Weight
Delivery–Date & Time
Site Preparation–Date & Time
Site Coverage–Date & Time
Site Compaction–Date & Time
Location of Burial Site
Assurance of Correct Burial
Name (please print)
Signature
Date
Attachment 2
Document Revision Status Table
Issue or Revision #
Date
Revision Description
Department of Agriculture
Agreed
Date
Note: The department reserves the right to review this arrangement where extensive amendments
are made to the PMS.
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