Orange City Council has a number of statutory responsibilities for the approval of liquid trade waste discharged into the sewerage system under the Local Government Act 1993. Council obligations include risk management, cost recovery, approvals, monitoring and ensuring licence conditions of the Sewerage Treatment Plant are met. Council has developed a Liquid Trade Waste Policy which outlines requirements and procedures for the management of Liquid trade waste.
Council’s management of liquid trade waste is overseen by the NSW Office of Water (NOW, formerly Dept. of Water and Energy – DWE) in accord with the Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines 2021 and Best-Practice Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Guidelines August 2007
Changes to trade waste business customer requirements to maintain grease arrest or (grease traps) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) restriction period
We understand that the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is having a significant impact on our business customers particularly food service customers.
If you’re closing your business during this time, we’ve made some changes to our trade waste requirements to help you.
In the case that your food businesses has closed for an undetermined period, your next scheduled service is to be brought forward as soon as possible to safeguard the grease arrestor from corrosion and reduce the risk of odour.
The next scheduled service date would then return to the frequency in your liquid trade waste conditional approval after you recommence business (e.g. 13 weeks after you re-open).
Also, if you have a reduced loading you are welcome to make an application to extend the grease arrestor pump-out frequency.
If you’re continuing to trade at normal capacity, your requirements will stay the same.
Have any questions? Call us on 6393 8870 and ask to speak to our Trade Waste Officer.
What is liquid trade waste?
Liquid trade waste means all liquid waste other than sewage of a domestic nature. Activities producing liquid trade waste include, but are not limited to:
- business/commercial premises (eg beautician, hairdresser, motel, café, butcher, service station, dentist)
- industrial premises
- community/public premises (eg school, college, hospital, craft clubs)
- trade activities (eg mobile carpet cleaners)
- saleyards, racecourses, stables and kennels not associated with households and
- any commercial activity carried out at a residential premises
Sewer systems are generally designed to cater for domestic waste. Liquid trade waste may exert greater demands on sewage treatment systems. Management of liquid trade waste is required to:
- Protect community assets, e.g. sewer mains, pumping stations and sewage treatment facilities from damage by trade waste
- Protect the environment – some substances, such as metals or pesticides may pass through the treatment facility unchanged and accumulate in the environment. Other substances may adversely affect the biological processes and the quality of the treated effluent and biosolids
- Protect public and worker health and safety – people working in and around the sewerage system can be harmed if toxic substances are discharged into the sewer
A person who wants to discharge liquid trade waste to a sewer must obtain Council’s approval as per section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993. This applies to new trade waste dischargers, those whose approval has expired, or where there is a change to operations.
The Applying for Liquid Trade Waste Approval Guide has been developed to assist dischargers with the approval process. Applying for liquid trade waste approval
Liquid Trade Waste Classifications
Four classifications of liquid trade waste have been established, called A, B, C or S, which are based on business types and volume of discharge. A classification guide is included in the ‘Applying for Liquid Trade Waste Approval Guide’. Separate application forms are available for each classification and are available for download.
Liquid Trade Waste Charging
Council provides sewage treatment and liquid trade waste services on a commercial basis, with cost recovery through trade waste fees and charges. For charging purposes, liquid trade waste dischargers are assessed in three different categories:
Category 1 dischargers requiring nil or minimal pre-treatment;
Category 2 dischargers requiring prescribed pre-treatment; and
Category 3 large dischargers (over 20kL/day) and industrial waste
The fees and charges that apply to each category are detailed in Orange City Council’s Delivery & Operational Plan, which can be found on this page.
Further Information
For further information or assistance please contact Orange City Council’s Trade Waste Officer on 6393 8000.
