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Trade waste agreements

All companies and businesses operating within Yarra Valley Water’s service area and discharging trade waste into the sewerage system are required to enter into an agreement with us.

New businesses are required to have a trade waste agreement before connecting to the sewer.

Existing businesses should check with us to see if there is a current trade waste agreement and whether it needs to be updated or renewed.
 

Applying for a trade waste agreement

Our trade waste consultants will provide assistance and information to help with applications for trade waste agreements or consents.
 

Applying for an agreement or consent involves submitting the following to us:
 

  • application form

  • plan of the proposed or existing treatment system prior to waste entering the sewerage system (if applicable)

  • a technical specification of the treatment system (if applicable)

  • a list of hazardous chemicals used or produced 

Customers are then issued with either a trade waste agreement or trade waste consent.
 

Types of agreements

YVW has a different type of trade waste agreement for each category of customer.  To find out more about customer classification and to find out what category is applicable to your business click here.  The different types of agreements are described below.


Trade Waste Agreement (Category A customers)

A Trade Waste Agreement is issued to industrial trade waste customers producing effluent that is considered to be medium to extreme risk.  This document requires a signature from both Yarra Valley Water and the customer, and includes all legal regulatory requirements.

 

Trade Waste Consent (Category B and C customers)

A Trade Waste Consent is issued to low-risk industrial and commercial customers.  This document differs to an agreement in that it does not require the trade waste customer's signature.  There are three types of trade waste consents:

  • Long Consent (Category B customers)

  • Short Consent (Category B customers, food businesses only)

  • Generic Consent (Category C customers)

Yarra Valley Water has published a generic form of agreement applicable to Category C customers.  To download a copy click here. As of the 1st July 2012, trade waste customers will automatically enter into this agreement if they continue to discharge.
 

Terms and conditions

The terms and conditions in a trade waste agreement include:

  • the nature, components and characteristics of the waste

  • the rate of discharge including the peak rate and total daily volume

  • the hours and the days of the week when waste can be discharged

  • the treatment processes and equipment used to regulate the quality, quantity and rate of discharge

  • any metering device used to measure or record the rate and volume of discharge

  • any special terms and conditions relevant to the particular discharge.


Changing an agreement

Trade waste agreements are regularly updated to provide for advances in industrial technology and the changing composition of trade wastes.  A revised agreement may require the customer to improve in-house treatment or provide additional monitoring or controls.


Compliance audits

The terms and conditions in a trade waste agreement or consent have been specified with consideration given to the protection of the sewerage and treatment infrastructure, as well as addressing OH&S and environmental concerns. It is therefore extremely important that customers are aware of their agreement responsibilities and ensure that there are adequate systems in place to guarantee compliance with the conditions for discharge.

There are risks associated with accepting trade waste into our sewerage system. One component of our risk management strategy includes a risk based customer audit program.  This involves unscheduled site visits by our trade waste field officer to inspect:
 

  • the quality of the waste discharge by taking samples and testing;

  • that treatment processes and equipment are installed and operating correctly, and regularly maintained; and

  • whether the site complies with the terms and conditions of the trade waste agreement.

Our trade waste auditors can enter a customer’s business premises at any time to check trade waste discharge and agreement conditions.