The Burdekin Shire Council provides a sewerage system primarily for the transportation and treatment of domestic sewage. The Water Act 2000 prohibits the discharge of any waste other than domestic sewage unless the appropriate approval has been obtained from Council.
What is trade waste?
Trade waste is any liquid waste generated by industry, small business and commercial enterprise other than domestic sewage.
Who generates trade waste?
A common misconception is that trade waste is always toxic and is generated by industrial factories. In actual fact trade waste incorporates wastewater generated by car washes, commercial kitchens, automotive repair workshops, air-conditioning units and a variety of processing operations.
The list of businesses with the potential to discharge trade waste is extensive and is detailed in
Why does trade waste discharge need to be monitored?
The disposal of trade waste without Council approval or the installation of a Council approved pre-treatment device can result in significant disruption to Council services and added cost to the community as a whole. Illegal discharge of trade waste such as flammable liquids, greases, acids and solids often results in blockages of the sewerage system, damage of sewerage equipment and adverse impacts on the sewage treatment process.
Some examples of the problems caused by illegaly disposing of trade waste are listed below:
- Petroleum Waste (Flammable Liquids)
- Causes dangerous build up of gases within the sewer system.
- Oil and Grease
- Causes blockages and offensive odours within the sewer system.
- Acidic and strong chemical waste
- Causes corrosion of sewerage equipment including pumps, fittings and pipes.
- High levels of detergent
- Causes foaming within sewer pipes and adversley effect nutrient loadings during the treatment process.
Sewer Admission Limits and Prohibited Discharges are detailed in Appendix 2.