A Trade Waste Agreement is a document that consents your business to discharge trade waste into the sewer.

The agreement outlines the requirements your business must meet to comply with trade waste legislation. Without consent, financial penalties may apply.

Yarra Valley Water is responsible for managing the water supply and sewerage system in the northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It is important we control and monitor what is going down the drain and into the sewerage system.

All businesses, no matter what size, can generate trade waste and include, but are not limited to: 

• fast food businesses
• bakeries
• canteens/cafeterias
• restaurants/cafes
• delicatessens
• manufacturers
• hospitals
• commercial swimming pools
• businesses with cooling towers
• printers
• car washes
• mechanics/panel beaters
• dry cleaners
• spray painters
• laundromats
• pet groomers.

Trade Waste Agreements help to protect your business and the sewerage system. 

Blockages in your business can result in smelly overflows and backlog which may cause temporary closure of your business or loss of customers. 

The agreement also helps us to protect the local community and our staff entering the sewer for maintenance.

An application fee and an annual contract fee are applicable. 

Fees are determined by the type of activities undertaken on site (e.g. food preparation), the quality (e.g. chemicals, grease etc.) and volume (how many litres) of trade waste entering the sewer. Individual business fees will be determined by Yarra Valley Water. 

All trade waste customers pay an annual fee to cover operational costs including the regulation, maintenance and consultation of trade waste services. Customers are subject to a stepped fee based on the risk ranking classification, with high risk customers paying the highest fees.

Read more about trade waste agreement fees and charges.

All businesses must take responsibility and contribute towards a community effort to reduce trade waste entering the sewerage system. 

If you don’t obtain or comply with a Trade Waste Agreement, your business could face fines for every day of non-compliance under the Water Act 1989. 

Your business could also be completely disconnected from the sewerage system, and forced to cease operation.

As a tenant, leaseholder, or manager you are responsible for establishing a Trade Waste Agreement and for managing all trade waste on-site. 

This is not the landlord’s responsibility. 

We undertake random inspections to confirm that businesses have a Trade Waste Agreement and are complying with the requirements. 

To avoid ongoing costs after you have closed or transferred ownership of your business, it is important to notify us of the change, or to cancel your Trade Waste Agreement.

Charges will continue until you have notified us and you will be liable for any ongoing charges. 

To end your agreement or for assistance contact us on 1300 771 865 or email [email protected].