Trade Waste
About Trade Waste
Trade waste is waterborne waste from any commercial or industrial activity that is discharged to the sewer.
Trade waste excludes domestic wastewater, for example toilets, showers, hand washing and non-commercial kitchens.
The owner of the property is the trade waste approval holder, as per the Townsville City Council Trade Waste Management Plan. Property owners are charged separately on their rates notice for trade waste discharged to the sewerage system.
Who needs a trade waste approval?
The sewerage system is specifically engineered for the disposal of domestic waste. If a business operating from a commercial, industrial, or private property intends to discharge wastewater to the sewer system (excluding domestic sources such as toilets, showers, hand washing, and non-commercial kitchens), the property owner must obtain a trade waste approval.
Trade Waste Charges
To recover the cost of managing the additional load trade waste imposes on the sewerage system, trade waste charges apply. Charges are based on the nature of the waste generated and the risk that the discharge poses to the sewerage system.
Each customer is charged an annual access fee and applicable category charges levied on the twice-yearly Council rate notices as a utility charge.
For more information, see Townsville City Council's current Schedule of Fees and Charges or Schedule of Rates and Charges.
Trade Waste Fact Sheets
Trade Waste Templates
More Information
The way in which Council will manage trade waste discharged to Council’s sewer is set out in the:
For more information on trade waste, contact the Trade Waste team on 13 48 10 or enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au.
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