Trade effluent – are you falling foul of the law?

Many organisations unwittingly produce trade effluent and are unaware of the legal requirements for disposing of this waste.

In this article we look at what trade effluent is, common activities that produce it and the requirements for disposing of it.

What is trade effluent?

Trade effluent is any liquid waste produced as part of a commercial or industrial activity, including liquid that contains particles of matter.

Common commercial activities that produce trade effluent include:

• food and drink production;
• chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing;
• engineering and maintenance;
• swimming pool operations;
• laundry of clothing; and
• vehicle washing.

Trade effluent does not include:

• domestic sewage, such as wastewater from flushing toilets or washing hands in sinks; or
• uncontaminated rainwater.

How can trade effluent be disposed of?

There are 3 main ways you can dispose of trade effluent, with differing requirements for each method.

1. Removal by a waste contractor

You can collect the trade effluent produced, storing it a container (such as a tank or an intermediate bulk container (IBC)) for collection and disposal by a waste contractor.

If you do this, it’s important to ensure that you follow waste rules for your jurisdiction, such as storing the waste under an exemption or permit, using a licensed waste contractor and documenting waste movements via waste transfer notes (for non-hazardous waste) and waste consignment notes (for hazardous or special waste).

2. Discharge to the public foul sewer

You can discharge trade effluent directly to the public foul sewer, but to do this you must have permission (commonly known as ‘trade effluent discharge consent’).

You are only allowed to discharge the volumes and compositions of trade effluent covered by the consent given. Trade effluent should only be discharged into the public foul sewer and not discharged into a surface water drain.

In the UK permission is given by the relevant wastewater company for the relevant area.

• • List of wastewater companies in England and Wales (Ofwat)
  • Scottish Water
  • Northern Ireland Water

In Ireland permission is usually given by Uisce Éireann (Irish Water), for larger discharges a licence is required from the Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Discharge to surface water or groundwater

You can discharge trade effluent directly to surface waters (such as rivers, streams, lakes and coastal waters) or into the ground through an infiltration system.

To do this you will need to get a permit or licence, which may have conditions and rules covering the volumes and compositions of effluent that may be discharged along with pre-treatment requirements.

In the UK, the relevant environment authority can issue a permit or consent.

• • England – Environment Agency
  • Wales – Natural Resources Wales
  • Scotland – Scottish Environment Protection Agency
  • Northern Ireland – Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

In Ireland, discharge licences are issued by local authorities (city or county councils).