Trade waste

What is trade waste?

Trade waste is wastewater produced by a business or commercial activity that can be different in nature or strength from normal household sewage.

This can include wastewater from activities such as:

• Food preparation and processing
• Vehicle servicing and washing
• Manufacturing and repair work
• Warehouses and commercial cleaning activities

Why we manage trade waste

Trade waste can place additional strain on our sewer network and wastewater treatment plants.

Managing trade waste helps us:

• Protect public infrastructure from blockages and damage
• Maintain safe and efficient wastewater treatment
• Reduce the risk of harm to the environment

Do I need a trade waste approval / agreement?

You may need a trade waste approval if your business discharges anything other than normal domestic wastewater to sewer.

Businesses that often require an agreement include:

• Food premises (cafés, restaurants, takeaways)
• Mechanical workshops and wash bays
• Industrial or manufacturing sites
• Commercial laundries
• Shopping centres and service stations

How are trade waste agreements issued?

Step 1 - Check if an approval is required

Review the business types above or contact the Trade Waste team for advice on 07 3412 3412.

Step 2 - Application review

We will review the following information as part of the Plumbing Application or Food Licence application process:

• The type of business operating on the site
• Plumbing layout and discharge points
• Any pre‑treatment devices that are installed or proposed

Step 3 - Council assessment

We will assess the information provided to determine:

• The wastewater risk associated with the business activity
• Whether pre‑treatment is required
• Any applicable conditions and charges

Step 4 - Approval issued and ongoing responsibilities

If approved, we will issue a trade waste approval to the property owner. Property owners are responsible for ensuring that all businesses operating on the site comply with our trade waste requirements.

Property owners and trade waste generators must also comply with the conditions, standards and requirements outlined in the following documents:

• Trade waste approval conditions(PDF, 214KB)
• Sewer admission standards(PDF, 456KB)
• Pre-treatment requirements(PDF, 1MB)
• Grease arrestor sizing calculation guide
• Registered transporters and service agents(PDF, 112KB)

Why is trade waste assessed?

Every business generates different wastewater.

Assessing whether an agreement is required allows us to:

• Understand the potential risks from each activity
• Confirm whether pre‑treatment or controls are needed
• Apply fair and consistent conditions across all businesses

Trade waste charges

Trade waste charges are applied to recover the cost of treating non‑domestic wastewater. Charges may be based on:

• The type of business activity
• The potential strength or impact of the wastewater
• A base charge for lower‑risk approvals

Trade waste charges will be billed to the property owner in their rates notice. Property owners wishing to recover trade waste charges from their tenants will need to set up billing arrangement with their tenants.

For more information about trade waste charges, please download the following documents:

• Trade waste charging framework and rates 2025 to 2026(PDF, 400KB)
• Trade waste charging rates summary 2025 to 2026(PDF, 198KB)
• Information pack, quarterly volumetric charges(PDF, 201KB).

Why are trade waste charges applied?

Trade waste treatment can require additional infrastructure, monitoring and treatment processes.

Charges ensure:

• Costs are shared fairly
• Businesses with higher impacts contribute accordingly
• Council can maintain and operate wastewater services sustainably

Cleaner trade waste production

We encourage businesses to manage their daily operations in ways that reduce trade waste and improve wastewater quality. This includes using fewer raw materials and producing cleaner trade waste.

Cleaner production can help businesses to:

• Improve control over day‑to‑day operations
• Reduce monitoring and compliance costs
• Minimise wastage of raw materials
• Reduce water and energy use
• Lower liquid and solid waste disposal costs
• Meet environmental and legislative requirements

Pre‑treatment devices

Some businesses may be required to install pre‑treatment devices to help manage trade waste before it enters the sewer system.

Common devices include:

• Grease arrestors
• Oil and water separators
• Silt pits or interceptors

These devices work by removing harmful substances from wastewater before it reaches our sewer network.

Why pre‑treatment is required

Without pre‑treatment, substances such as grease, oils and solids can:

• Cause sewer blockages and overflows
• Damage pipes and pumping equipment
• Increase wastewater treatment costs

Installing the correct pre‑treatment device helps protect our infrastructure and reduces the risk of non‑compliance for your business.

To learn more, please download the following fact sheets:

• Trade waste cleaner production for the food industry(PDF, 562KB)
• Trade waste cleaner production for the mechanical workshop industry(PDF, 624KB)
• Trade waste cleaner production for the metal fabrication and finishing industry(PDF, 458KB).

Inspections, monitoring and sampling

We may carry out inspections or wastewater sampling as part of your trade waste agreement.

This may include:

• Site inspections
• Reviewing maintenance records
• Occasional wastewater sampling

Why do we monitor trade waste

Monitoring helps to:

• Confirm agreement conditions are being met
• Identify issues early before they escalate
• Ensure wastewater is suitable for treatment

This approach focuses on working with businesses to achieve compliance and prevent larger problems from occurring.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)