About trade waste

Trade waste is liquid waste from commercial and industrial activities that is discharged into the sewer. It doesn’t include normal household waste like showering, cooking or flushing toilets.

The issue is that trade waste enters a sewerage system that wasn’t built for it. GWMWater systems were designed mainly for domestic waste, which is predictable in quality. If trade waste isn’t properly managed, it can strain the system and create serious risks for public health, the environment, treatment plants, and the people who work on them.

Important - From 1 July 2021, you can't lawfully move reportable priority waste without being fully onboarded into the Environment Protection Authority's Waste Tracker. If you require assistance to complete your sign-up, please call EPA on 1300 372 842.

See our Trade Waste Information Package Booklet to help you understand your rights and responsibilities.

Trade Waste Consent or Agreements

Before discharging trade waste, all businesses using a commercial property for their commercial or industrial processes must enter into a Trade Waste Consent or Agreement with GWMWater.

What type of agreement you apply for and the rules you must comply with depend on the classification of your business. We classify businesses into five categories from Category 0 to Category 4, based on a number of factors, including:

• business location

• volume of discharge

• nature of business activity

• quality of waste

• compliance and performance history

• risk to health and safety, the sewerage system or environment.

Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 need to complete an application to discharge trade waste in order to enter into a Trade Waste Consent or Agreement. Category 0 need not apply as they are automatically entered into a Trade Waste Consent.

Apply to discharge trade waste

How to change or cancel your Trade Waste Consent or Agreement

Trade waste categories

Non-major trade waste

These are generally business types in the table below:

Category 0

The lowest category of trade waste producers, this category is for businesses that:

• have trade waste similar of a similar quality to residential waste and;

• discharge only small amounts of trade waste.

If your business is in Category 0, you don't need to make an application to discharge trade waste. On your correspondence from us (such as a water bill) it will be made clear that you're in Category 0 and have entered a default Trade Waste Agreement.

Categories 1 & 2

Category 1 is for businesses discharging:

• mainly kitchen or laundry waste but also includes wash water from places like garages, workshops and school laboratories

• volumes that don't exceed 750 kilolitres per year.

Category 2 is for businesses discharging:

• mainly kitchen or laundry waste but also includes wash water from places like garages, workshops and school laboratories

• trade waste in volumes over 750 kilolitres a year

• trade waste with only low levels of contaminates.

Category 1 and 2 businesses need a 'Consent to Discharge' from us before discharging any trade waste into the sewerage system. A Consent to Discharge is a form of Trade Waste Agreement. To get a Consent to Discharge complete a Trade Waste Application form : Trade Waste Application form - Word Version

Businesses in these categories will also generally need a pre-treatment device or grease trap installed prior to a Consent to Discharge being issued. View our pre-treatment device and grease trap requirements.

Major trade waste

Major trade waste businesses are bound by the following criteria:

Category 3

We classify Category 3 businesses by their large discharges and the contamination of their waste. Both the volume and nature of their trade waste makes Category 3 establishments a greater risk to our sewer system and treatment processes then category 1 and 2 customers.

Category 3 businesses must complete an application to discharge trade waste and enter into a Trade Waste Agreement before discharging trade waste.

Category 4

Trade Waste from Category 4 business has characteristics that are outside the limits set the Customer Charter and the agreement. However, it's still capable of being treated by GWMWater’s wastewater treatment facility.

Category 4 businesses must complete an application to discharge trade waste and enter into a Trade Waste Agreement before discharging trade waste.

Trade Waste Customer Charter

Information about the trade waste services performed by GWMWater and the respective rights and responsibilities of GWMWater and its customers.

Trade Waste Customer Charter

Trade Waste Customer Service Code

Apply to discharge trade waste

Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 need to complete an application to discharge trade waste in order to enter into a Trade Waste Agreement. Category 0 need not apply as they are automatically entered into a Trade Waste Agreement.

Find out more.

Trade waste grease trap size requirements

Restaurant

Accommodation