Trade waste partnerships program
In August 2004 EPA launched its Trade Waste Partnerships Program. Under this program EPA has established partnerships with water businesses that sell fresh (potable) water and treat used water (effluent) from domestic, commercial and industrial facilities. Water businesses collect effluent through sewerage systems, treat it to strict standards before it is reused and discharged back to the environment. Water businesses also return appropriately treated sewerage sludge, known as 'biosolids', to the environment from the treatment plant.
The quality of effluent sent to the water business can limit the ability of the treatment plant to achieve the standards required to reuse water and biosolids. An increased quantity of effluent increases the amount of lower grade water that is discharged to the environment, and ultimately reduces the availability of our limited potable water supply.
Effluent from an industrial source is known as 'trade waste'. Trade waste, in many cases, is a key limiting factor in treatment plant performance, quality of discharges, and effluent and biosolids reuse.
Under the Trade Waste Partnerships Program, EPA and the water businesses are helping industrial clients to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of trade waste sent to treatment plants. The program, which is based on a 'cleaner production' approach, aims to minimise the production of waste as close as possible to the source of waste generation. An holistic approach is taken to ensure that the waste is not diverted into other forms and, where appropriate, reductions in solid waste and energy consumption are also considered.
EPA has formal Trade Waste Partnership Programs with partners in the water industry.
EPA hosts the training course ‘Liquid Trade Waste Management’ developed in collaboration with VicWater and the National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology.
The course scheduled to run in November 2007 has being postponed until February 2008.
Examples of companies that have successfully reduced their water consumption and discharge costs are available. Some of those companies are:
- Allviron
- BlueScope Steel
- CMI Operations
- CV Laundry
- Unilever, Tatura