Whanganui District Council’s Trade Waste Bylaw 2018 is due for its legal review. After evaluating the current bylaw we think it’s fit for purpose at this time so as a result, we’re proposing to retain the bylaw with minor updates only.
What the Trade Waste Bylaw does
The Trade Waste Bylaw regulates liquid waste businesses put into our sewerage system, with restrictions and controls on what can be discharged.
Its purpose is to control and monitor trade waste going into sewers to protect community and environmental health as well as sewerage infrastructure and employees.
Proposed minor changes to the bylaw
Minor changes are proposed to improve the clarity of the bylaw.
Additionally, the schedules will be moved out of the current bylaw and into a separate document to make it easier to give updates in the future.
You can review the proposed updates to the Trade Waste Bylaw here:
Have your say
The survey is now closed.
For the purposes of the bylaw, trade waste refers to any waste product discharged into the wastewater (sewerage) system by businesses. In other contexts, the term ‘trade waste’ can mean different things, including plastic packaging or construction materials – but for the bylaw, it’s talking specifically about what is entering wastewater pipes. This can include fat from grease traps at fast food places, heavy chemical run-off from industrial plants and everything in-between.
Although everyone puts waste into the wastewater system, commercial waste is often produced in greater volumes and can be extremely hazardous. Careless disposal of such waste can damage pipes and other downstream parts of the network – such as the water treatment plant – compromising the safety of workers, making the network less effective for other users and, in extreme circumstances, damaging the overall environmental health and safety of the district.
The Trade Waste Bylaw provides a pathway for big contributors to pay for the cost when their activity leads to short and long-term damage that needs repair.