Trade waste is any liquid, an any substances contained in it, produced by an industrial or commercial activity at any business premises.  It may include any waste that is transported from the point of generation.

Only liquid waste that conforms to council's set limits will be accepted for discharge to sewer.

These limits are imposed because waste from many businesses and industries may contain materials that are potentially harmful to sewerage workers, the sewerage system and the environment.

Trade waste must not be discharged into council's sewer, unless the owner of the premises from which trade waste is discharged has been granted a trade waste approval.

Fees and Charges for Trade waste

PERMIT
To obtain an approval to discharge trade waste to sewer, the owner or authorised agent must submit the following criteria:

• A completed application to discharge trade waste to sewer form signed by the owner / authorised agent and the generator;
• Adopted trade waste application fee;
• As constructed hydraulic plumbing and drainage plans
• Material Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals and raw products used and stored on the premises;
• An other relevant information.

Owners and authorised agents should also refer to the Pre-Treatment Guidelines for Trade Waste Discharges.

INSPECTION PROGRAM
Central Highlands Regional Council is routinely carrying out a trade waste inspection of all businesses operating within the Central Highlands.  For information and to book onsite inspections, please contact CHRC Trade Waste Officer on 1300 242 686.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q.  Is Council going to inspect every business?
A.  Yes.  A trade waste site assessment will be conducted on every business.  If it is determined during the site assessment that trade waste is not discharged to sewer from that business, trade was approval will not be required and no trade waste fee is applicable.  A non-generator letter will also be sent to that business.

Q.  Does every business have a trade waste charge?
A.  No.  Only businesses that discharge trade waste to sewer will be affected by trade waste fees and charges.  Although, all commercial properties do have the potential to be charged a Volumetric Fee for an excess load on the sewer system.

Q.  Do I need a permit (a trade waste approval) for my business?
A.  If your business discharges any waste to Council's sewer that is not specifically domestic waste then there is a chance you are discharging trade waste to sewer and may require a permit.

Q.  When should I apply for an approval?
A.  If you are commencing operation of a new business or operating an existing business that has undergone any change to the following:

• Property owner or trade waste generator ie. business owner, lessee etc
• Operating practices / processes
• Method of trade waste disposal

then you need to make an application to Council for approval to discharge trade waste to sewer.

Q.  How long does a trade waste approval last?
A.  A trade waste approval lasts as long as the property owner and business owner and practices remain the same.  The approval is renewable every 12 months.

Q.  What is the cost to businesses?
A.  All businesses applying for an approval to discharge trade waste to the sewer must pay a $60.65 application fee and an initial site inspection fee of $121.50.  Annual approval fees vary depending on the type of business and the strength of the trade waste discharged to sewer.  A trade waste volumetric charge of $1.00 per kilolitre may also apply.  Refer to fees and charges for more details.

Q.  What is involved in the site fee?
A.  A site visit fee is one of the charges which may apply to a trade waste generator and may be charged if additional site visits, not covered by the application fee, are required to ensure continued waste compliance.  Site fees are not applicable to most businesses.

Q.  What happens when a business changes ie business closes and new business moves in, or same business with a change of owner?
A.  Approval to discharge trade waste to sewer is not transferable.  A new application for approval to discharge trade waste to sewer is required.  Even if it is only the business owner that changes, not the operations, a new application is required as operating procedures and practices may change causing a possible change to discharge strengths.  Business owners should contact Council if their business operation ceases.

Q.  Is there a fine if businesses continue to discharge without trade waste approval?
A.  It is an offence to discharge trade waste to sewer without appoval.  Each individual business discharging trade waste to sewer will be provided the opportunity to apply for approval.  If a business does not apply for approval and continues to discharge trade waste to sewer, Council may withdraw access to discharge trade waste to sewer from that property.  Council also has at its discretion the power to issue fines for continued non compliance.

Q.  We are in a block of shops and have never received a water bill, what happens in this situatuion?
A.  A business that discharges trade waste to sewer must install a trade waste flow measurement device as per the Pre Treatment guidelines for Trade Waste Discharge.  This flow measurement device will accurately measure all trade waste discharge to sewer.  Meters are read twice a year and the business owners will receive a bill for the amount discharged.

Q.  What is a grease trap?
A.  A grease trap is a pre treatment device that separates fats, oils, grease and solids from the wastewater by cooling, causing the congealed grease to rise to the surface of the grease trap.  The baffles in the trap slows the water flow so that the solids settle to the bottom of the trap.

Q.  Should I have grease trap or an arrestor?
A.  Grease traps are used in the food industry such as hotels / motels, restaurants, cafes, butchers, bakeries, schools (canteens) and takeways.

Q.  Who is responsible for servicing a grease trap?
A.  The trade waste generator is responsible for getting the grease trap serviced by a council approved licensed contractor?

Q.  Who should have an oil / water separator?
A.  Any workshop that has a wash down bay or any other discharge to sewer from pits and machinery.

Q.  Who is responsible for servicing a separator?
A.  The trade waste generator is responsible for getting their separator serviced by a council approved licensed contractor.