All waste for disposal and recovery that is to be shipped across national borders must generally be notified. The only exception is waste for recovery that is listed in Annexes III, IIIA and IIIB as well as V Part 1 List B of the WSR and is to be shipped within the EU. This exception also applies to the import and, in some cases, the export of waste from or to EFTA states (Iceland, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein), to states that have ratified the Basel Convention and to most states that are party to OECD Council Decision C(2001)107. Only the so-called "general information requirements" apply to this waste.

For the types of waste listed below, the notification procedure does not have to be carried out for certain shipments; instead, the "general information requirements" pursuant to Article 18 of the WSR apply. The completed form in accordance with Annex VII of the WSR must accompany the waste shipment. Furthermore, a contract must be concluded between the person arranging the shipment and the consignee, which must be effective at the start of the shipment and which must meet the requirements of Article 18(2) of the WSR in terms of content. If the shipment fails or is illegal, the initiator of the shipment must take back the waste at his own expense or otherwise recover it. He undertakes to do this in the contract. He also agrees to temporarily store the waste if necessary (see also Article 18 Paragraph 2 of the WSR). It is recommended that the contract also be carried along during transportation.