A shipping paper is a document prepared in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (Part 172, Subpart C). This term covers any shipping order, bill of lading, waybill, manifest, or other document serving a similar purpose.

With a few exceptions, a shipping paper is required to accompany each shipment of hazardous materials during transportation. This requirement may be met by a photocopy of the shipping paper or by a carrier-prepared shipping paper, such as a freight bill or waybill. Electronic versions of the shipping paper are NOT permitted during transportation; the shipping paper must be in hard copy/printed format. For shipments of hazardous waste, the original shipper-prepared hazardous waste manifest is the only authorized documentation. A hazardous waste manifest is a shipping paper prepared on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s uniform hazardous waste manifest, Form 8700-22. All hazardous wastes subject to Title 40, Part 262 must be identified on this form. The original hazardous waste manifest must accompany each shipment from the point of pickup to its final destination, and appropriate copies of the document must be properly distributed. Copies are provided for the generator, transporter, and treatment, storage, or disposal (TSD) facility.