Draft Liquid Trade Waste Management Policy

Liquid trade waste refers to liquid waste produced by a business, commercial or industrial activity. It excludes waste from washbasin, shower, bath, or toilet, and residences. 

The Liquid Trade Waste Policy outlines the way we are responsible for monitoring and regulating liquid trade waste across the Central Coast Council LGA. It is also a requirement under the NSW Liquid Trade Waste Management Guidelines (2021).

In 2021, Department of Planning and Environment updated their Liquid Trade Management Guidelines for Councils.

NSW Independent Price and Review Tribunal (IPART) reviewed the prices for water, wastewater and other services supplied by Central Coast Council in 2022. This review rationalised the chargeable substances in liquid trade waste.

The proposed updates to our Policy aim to improve how we:

1. Monitor liquid trade waste
2. Work with customers to improve the quality of liquid trade waste they discharge
3. Provide an environmentally responsible liquid trade waste service to business customers
4. Communicate and interact with our customers to achieve better compliance and efficiency outcomes
5. Protect our assets, workers, systems, public health and environment through enforcement and appropriate use of penalties 

The revised policy includes the following four key changes:

1. Requirements of Effluent Improvement Plans (EIP) to improve discharge quality
2. A rationalised list of chargeable substances in the liquid trade waste
3. Streamlining how we manage and administer approvals for multi-premise sites
4. Improving how we monitor liquid trade waste discharge through proactive sampling programs and scheduled inspections

Council routinely works with businesses to help identify their individual trade waste requirements. Our Liquid Trade Waste Team is readily available to respond to customer enquiries as required. Our contact details can be found at the end of this FAQs.

If you own or operate a business that produces liquid trade waste, you will need to lodge an application and provide all the requested information.

Applications and relevant details for various business activities in our website under ‘Applications and industry specific information and applications’. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/business/health-and-safety/liquid-trade-waste.

If you are looking to install a pre-treatment solution to manage your businesses refer to applications and industry specific information on our website. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/business/health-and-safety/liquid-trade-waste.

Liquid trade waste compliance will be monitored by Council's Liquid Trade Waste team.

To ensure the quality of discharge meets acceptable limits outlined in this policy, Council will be undertaking proactive sampling of effluent discharged into the sewerage system.

Once samples are collected, they will be tested as part of our monitoring process and the results with the customer to discuss outcomes and next steps as required.

In the absence of suitable controls and monitoring, liquid trade waste may have adverse impacts on the systems, the environment and the health and safety. The impacts of poor liquid trade waste management include:

1. Blockages in the sewerage system caused by grease, oil and solid material which can result in overflows of untreated sewage into the environment and damage to Council assets
2. Odour problems and the corrosion of sewer mains, pumping stations and sewage treatment facilities
3. Unfavourable impact on the health of the community and environment, including land, waterways and sea
4. Prevent blockages in the wastewater system that could cause waste to flow into the environment, into the community or even back into your premises
5. Health and safety of people working in and around the wastewater system including Council staff personnel
6. Poor quality recycled water and biosolids, which may lead to limited beneficial use of these resources

In general, your approval will remain current unless any changes directly impact your previous approval conditions. We will contact you to discuss if any changes are required.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is responsible for reviewing and determining the maximum water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for major water utilities in NSW including liquid trade waste.

The fees and charges are then adopted by Council as part of its annual Management

Plan. An up-to-date schedule of fees and charges is available on the Council website and can be obtained from Council.

Council provides sewerage and liquid trade services on a commercial (user pays) basis, subject to IPART pricing determinations.

To learn more about the services we deliver to our community you can;

• Visit our website and search for ‘Liquid Trade Waste’
• Call Trade Waste Team Leader on 02 4306 7900
• Email Council Liquid Trade Waste Team at liquidtradewaste@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Feedback is to be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Farmer by between 9am 3 April and 5pm 1 May 2023 via:

• the online feedback form (preferred)
• email: ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• phone: Melissa Coote, Team Leader Trade Waste (02) 4306 7900
• meeting: Book by emailing liquidtradewaste@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• post: PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259