Shipping hazardous waste in and out of Australia has become a major industry under the coalition government.
The Environment Department's annual report showed the number of permits to import and export hazardous waste has doubled in the past three years.
In 2012/13, the department reported 26 permits were granted including 15 for imports and 11 for exports.
That number went up to 41 in 2013/14 and in 2014/15 it rose again to 57 permits.
In the past three years, only six permits were refused.
Among the imported waste has been paints, solvents, clinical waste, pesticides and biocides, asbestos, oil, used lead acid batteries, gas cylinders and electronic equipment.
Australia has exported batteries, lead, electronic waste and steel scrap coated with paint containing asbestos fibres.
The department said the government was fulfilling Australia's international obligations on hazardous waste.
Movement of waste was minimised and managed in an "environmentally sound manner" and reported under international conventions.
Australia has 170 waste treatment, disposal and remediation services which report to the National Pollutant Inventory.
The department's report comes as the federal government considers potential sites for a nuclear waste dump.
Low and intermediate level waste from nuclear medicine and research is held at about 100 facilities around the country.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week said the government must find safer places to store nuclear waste.
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