Illegal E-Waste Exports from Australia Uncovered by GPS Trackers
A new investigation by the Basel Action Network (BAN), a U.S.-based environmental group, suggests ongoing illegal exports of Australian e-waste to Southeast Asian nations. Data from GPS trackers installed in discarded electronics reveals that a significant portion of e-waste is leaving Australian shores without proper authorization.
Investigation Findings Reveal Overseas Shipments
In February 2025, BAN placed GPS tracking devices in 35 non-reparable LCD computer monitors and printers. These items were positioned at recycling locations across Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.
Approximately one year into the investigation, seven of these trackers were detected in Southeast Asia:
Three trackers were found in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; three at factories in the Philippines; and one on Batam Island, Indonesia.
The remaining 28 trackers continued to be active within Australia.
Regulatory and Environmental Concerns Highlighted
BAN states that these findings indicate persistent e-waste "leakage" from Australia and a severe lack of transparency in the disposal chain. E-waste encompasses electrical or electronic products that often contain hazardous pollutants like mercury, which pose significant risks to both the environment and human health if not managed correctly.
An Australian government spokesperson confirmed that, under the Basel Convention—an international treaty governing hazardous waste movement—exports of e-waste to Malaysia and Indonesia are strictly illegal. While exports to the Philippines can be permissible with a permit, no such permits have been issued for these specific instances.
Hayley Palmer, BAN's executive director, commented on the findings:
"The GPS data suggests these exports are 'likely, under the Basel Convention, illegal.'"
This marks BAN's second investigation into Australian e-waste, following a 2018 report that traced waste to Hong Kong and Thailand.
Australia's E-Waste Scale and Alarming Overseas Observations
Australia generated a substantial 583,000 tonnes of e-waste in 2022, according to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor. On average, each Australian produces 22.4 kilograms of e-waste annually.
Troy Rowe, an Australian recycler, visited e-waste and e-plastics recycling facilities in Malaysia in 2024. He reported observing deeply concerning conditions:
"These included deactivated air extraction systems during plastic melting, workers operating barefoot, and plastics being discharged into a river."
Mr. Rowe also noted that workers at some of these sites claimed to be processing waste originating from Australia, Europe, and the U.S.
Systemic Flaws and Government Response
Suzanne Toumbourou, CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling, has pointed to systemic problems within Australia's recycling systems, particularly concerning the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS). She described the NTCRS as "gameable" and inadequately policed, highlighting that the council had alerted the federal government to these shortcomings two years prior.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has confirmed that it is conducting a statutory review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, which includes the rules supporting the NTCRS. This review is expected to be tabled in the coming months. Furthermore, the five co-regulators of the NTCRS are scheduled for their five-yearly review this financial year.
Ms. Toumbourou also underscored a broader lack of compliance and enforcement regarding general waste exports.
She stated that legitimate operators following legal pathways are undermined by unmapped "illegitimate activity."