Automotive trade waste

Trade waste is any liquid or gas, with or without matter in suspension or solution, that is or may be discharged from a trade premises in the course of any trade, industrial process, or operation, or in the course of any activity or operation of a like nature.

Trade Waste Bylaw

The Trade Waste Bylaw 2019 is a legal document we use to manage trade waste discharges that enter our wastewater system. It allows us to manage and prevent sewer overflows, blockages, infrastructure damage, protect the environment, while also protecting the health and safety risk to our workers and our community.

It also assists us (Council) meet our Resource Management Act requirements and provides for an equitable spread of costs and promote the use of waste minimisation and cleaner production techniques.

Who it covers

The bylaw and its rules are for all businesses, corporations, groups, or individuals who want to connect, disconnect, open manholes, discharge trade waste or domestic waste into the Council system, or discharge trade waste or domestic waste directly into the wastewater treatment plant facility. It also helps Council meet our requirements under the Resource Management Act 1991 and allows costs to be spread fairly and promote waste minimisation and cleaner production techniques.

What businesses need to do

If your business wants to discharge into our network, you’ll need to apply for a trade waste consent. This is a written approval to discharge wastewater into the sewer system under set conditions.

You’ll need to identify the type of discharge, the volume and the characteristics of the discharge. The bylaw sets the consent type. The nature of your trade waste is determined as part of the application process and the trade waste consent fees are set based on the criteria set out in the Schedule 3 of the bylaw. Council will advise if we can accept the discharge and could put conditions in place to manage any risks generated from your proposed discharge.

All consents are non-transferable because they’re specific to the activity that you’re carrying out. If you no longer own a business, you must let us know so the new owner and business
can be assessed.

We work with trade waste dischargers in Kāpiti to implement the bylaw. If you have questions about the bylaw and its implications, contact our duty compliance officer.

Main requirements of the bylaw

A list of ‘permitted and prohibited wastewater characteristics’ can be found in the Schedules section of the bylaw.

If there’s an accident or spill that causes damage to or allows a substance to enter our network, it must be reported to us immediately, as this may have significant impact. You could be asked to install a flow meter, which must be calibrated and monitored on a regular basis to allow more accurate reading of discharge volumes. If a flow meter isn’t required, then we might estimate your trade waste discharge for billing purposes.

Chemicals and other hazardous substances

To protect the network, environment, and the safety of staff, customers and the public, all chemicals and hazardous substances listed in Schedule 2 of the bylaw must not enter our wastewater network. All practical steps must be taken when storing, transporting and using hazardous substances.

Protecting our services

No one is allowed to damage, obstruct or modify the wastewater system in any way unless they have written Council approval before the works. This is to prevent damage to our underground and treatment plant services, which could result in road closures, evacuation, destroyed buildings, serious injury and even fatalities.

Private drains

Property owners are responsible for all costs associated with a wastewater pipe or system that’s become defective, damaged, cracked, illegally connected, and/or for the removal of an obstruction that’s created flooding. If you think there’s a problem with your wastewater pipes or systems on your property, please contact a plumber.

Tankered waste

All tankered waste companies will be required to have a trade waste consent before any discharge can be made into our wastewater system. Tanker waste will only be accepted during normal working hours and only at approved locations.

Monitoring, testing and access

From time-to-time, an authorised officer may inspect, monitor, test, and take samples to make sure people are complying with the bylaw.

Breaches

If you don’t comply with the bylaw or conditions specific to your consent, provide misleading information, obstruct, or refuse access to an authorised officer, then you’re in breach of the bylaw. If you’re found to be in breach of the bylaw, we might decide to restrict your access to the wastewater system.

Cost recovery

Under the Local Government Act 2002, we may ask you to do work to your premise or take action to remedy a breach of this bylaw within a specific timeframe; otherwise we can complete the work and recover all works and administrative costs.

Offences and penalties

Anyone who breaches this bylaw and is convicted is liable for a penalty up to $200,000 under section 242 of the Local Government Act 2002. If you’re convicted of any offence against this bylaw, you’re also liable to pay the Council any costs to fix any damage caused by the offence.

Contact us

If you’d like to know more, or have questions, please get in touch with the Trade Waste Officer.