What is trade waste?

Do I need a trade waste agreement?

Every business that discharges wastewater (other than domestic wastewater) into our sewer system must have a trade waste agreement with us.

Agreements contain the terms and conditions under which your trade waste will be accepted.

Examples of businesses and institutions that prepare food are:

• take-away shops
• cafes
• restaurants
• schools
• child-care centres and nursing homes.

Businesses like this will be required to have a grease trap installed and this must be maintained while operating your business.

Grease traps are a treatment device that separate oils, fats and solids and prevent them from entering the sewer. To find out more about grease traps and installation visit our grease trap page.

Examples of other trade waste customers are:

• meat processing plants
• food manufacturers
• metal finishes
• car washes
• hospitals
• laundries and chemical plants.
• construction sites who need to manage storm or groundwater*

These types of businesses normally have trade waste pre-treatment and management requirements specific to the customer’s activities. Trade waste requirements are negotiated with us during the agreement preparation phase.

*Please note that groundwater intercepted by completed structures will not be accepted for discharge into CWW's sewerage network.

Trade waste documents

•  
  Trade waste customer charter (PDF - 479.25KB)

  This document outlines our trade waste services and our customer's obligations.

•  
  Trade waste terms and conditions (PDF - 177.78KB)

  Trade waste terms and conditions associated with our trade waste consents.

•  
  Approved acceptance criteria (PDF - 228.05KB)

  This document outlines what standards trade waste discharges to sewer must comply with.

•  
  Pricing handbook (DOC - 1894.00KB)

  Download our pricing handbook to find out the prices for your trade waste agreement.

Deemed customers

Non-residential customers who discharge low volumes of low strength wastewater, similar to a normal residential household, are Deemed customers.

Deemed customers include:

• Occasional and child care centres - without food preparation or laundry facilities.
• Medical facilities without x-ray or plaster setting services.
• Dental practices without x-ray or plaster setting services - must have an amalgam trap installed.
• Veterinary, animal clinics and retail pet shops without kennel wash-down areas, dog washes, x-rays or aquariums.
• Beauticians and hairdressers with 10 or fewer wash stations.
• Chemist and pharmacy without non-digital photo processing.
• Retail florists providing that straining or silt traps are installed and maintained - no herbicide to sewer is permitted.
• Standalone retail green grocers - straining or silt traps must be installed and maintained.

This list is not exhaustive. If you believe you may be a Deemed trade waste customer contact us.

A deemed customer does not need to pay trade waste charges or hold a site-specific trade waste agreement. Instead they can find a letter of consent to discharge in the download section of this page.

Deemed customer documents

•  
  Deemed customer letter of consent to discharge (PDF - 51.70KB)

  For deemed trade waste customers.

General trade waste FAQs

Who needs to hold a trade waste agreement?

A trade waste agreement is required for any business or institution that carries out any of the following activities:

• Discharging any liquid waste to our sewer, other than domestic waste (domestic waste is from a toilet, hand basin or a kitchen sink used for personal use).
• Washing-up or cleaning any utensil or apparatus that is a component of the business or institution and then discharging the waste to our sewer.
• Conducting a commercial and/or industrial process that produces a contaminated liquid waste that is discharged to sewer (i.e. anything that is non-domestic liquid waste that contains chemicals or residue from a commercial or industrial process).
• Having any pre-treatment device(s) installed on the property connected to our infrastructure regardless of whether it is in us or not.

Why does City West Water manage trade waste?

Our trade waste management program manages risk to:

• Protect the health & safety of sewer workers.
• Protect the integrity of the sewer system.
• Protect sewage treatment plant processes.
• Protect the environment, particularly the receiving environment.
• Facilitate & provide opportunities for re-use of effluent & biosolids.

What are my trade waste legal obligations?

To review your legal obligations, please download our Water Act 1989 PDF document.

The primary legal obligation, applicable to all trade waste producers in Victoria who discharge to a sewer network, is that they hold a valid trade waste agreement with their local water authority.

How do I apply for a trade waste agreement?

Find out about the Trade Waste Agreement your business needs by visiting;

• Food businesses
• Commercial or Industrial businesses

After we receive your trade waste application form, you can expect to hear from us within 10 business days.

I am a new business operator. How do I organise the trade waste agreement and bills in my name?

We will update any trade waste agreement and billing details on receipt of your trade waste application.

Visit our setting up a new business page for more information.

Why do you give my business a risk rank?

A risk rank assists us to manage the risk of trade waste discharged from your site to the sewerage system. The risk rank given to your business is calculated based on a number of factors which are detailed in the Trade Waste Customer Charter and Pricing Handbook.

How do I connect to the sewer?

You must use a licensed plumber to connect your business to sewer for the purposes of discharging trade waste. A plumbing work for drinking water, sewerage and recycled water application form must be filled out and submitted to us prior to this connection taking place.

My business has changed and I no longer produce trade waste. What are my options?

Visit the what to do when moving or closing your business page for more details on closing your trade waste account.