Trade Waste
Learn about your business's responsibilities to manage and monitor its liquid waste, and how to apply for trade waste consents.
Applying for a trade waste consent
Trade waste consents, including discharging geothermal waters, for the Rotorua district are handled by Co-Lab. To apply, use the trade waste application on the Co-Lab Water Services website.
About trade waste
Trade waste is commercial and industrial liquid waste and geothermal water discharged into and treated by our wastewater network. Compared to residential wastewater, trade waste has more associated risks. It’s important we work together to manage it properly, and prevent:
- Sewer blockages or overflows
- Damage to the wastewater system
- Health hazards for people
- Harm to the environment.
Trade waste is regulated by the Water Services and Tradewaste Bylaw 2017.
Your responsibilities
Check your risk classification
We use trade waste classifications, set out in our bylaws, to help manage the conditions of different businesses or industries.
| Classification | Trade waste consent required | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Permitted | No | The discharge to sewer from your business is not likely to exceed the standards in Schedule Two of the Bylaw. |
| Conditional | Yes; with conditions | Pre-treatment or conditions to ensure the discharge to sewer meets the standards in Schedule Two of the Bylaw. |
| Prohibited | N/A | You must not discharge trade waste with prohibited characteristics and substances to sewer at all, under Schedule Three of the Bylaw. |
Monitoring your trade waste
If you have a trade waste agreement, it will set out how to monitor your trade waste discharge. You need to follow these requirements and send us the results.
To find your nearest accredited testing laboratories, visit the IANZ directory above and follow these steps:
- Select ‘Search for a testing inspection facility’
- Select ‘Laboratory - Chemical Testing’
- Select ‘2.41 Waters’
- Select ‘(d) Effluents and Tradewastes’.
- Select ‘Go’ and view your options.
Our compliance and audit monitoring programme
Our responsibility is to monitor compliance via audits to:
- Check that you’re complying with your trade waste consent and the bylaw
- Verify your self-monitoring data.
The cost of further visits and laboratory testing will be passed on to you.
Constituents of concern, spill management and pre-treatment
- Characteristics/Constituents of Concern (PDF 332KB)
- Schedule Five of the bylaw - spill management
- Schedule Four of the bylaw - requirements for grease traps, garbage grinders and dishwashers
- Contractors Application for Pre-Treatment Device Provider
- Ministry for Environment Hazardous Substances (environment.govt.nz)
- Disposal of non-commercial portable toilet waste
- Approved pre-treatment suppliers & maintenance providers (PDF 128KB)
Trade waste fees and charges
We charge for trade waste services in two ways.
Consents and compliance charges
These charges cover the cost of consenting and monitoring the trade waste, and any site visits and compliance costs.
Additional wastewater charges
Our commercial wastewater charges cover the cost of carrying, treating and disposing of trade waste.
Non-domestic properties or those sending geothermal water into the sewer will pay extra fees for wastewater treatment. Meters will measure how much water you send into the sewer.
We will subtract any fixed fees already paid for wastewater or sewer rates and charge the balance per cubic meter. You will receive a quarterly invoice for these charges with metered water rates.
For most places, the amount of drinking water used roughly matches the amount of wastewater sent out. If you use geothermal water, or if your water usage doesn’t match your wastewater, we’ll measure your wastewater directly.
Solid trade waste
Looking for information on other waste disposal for commercial or industrial businesses? Council operates a commercial rubbish collection service alongside our residential kerbside collections. Find out more and how to sign up for this service below.
