When you need a licence for this activity
You must get a permission from us to conduct certain activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment. These are called prescribed activities and are defined in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021.
Under the Regulations, you need an A07a – Organic waste processing (large) development licence and operating licence to process organic waste by aerobic or anaerobic biological conversion if:
- you accept more than 100 tonnes or 200 m3 of organic waste in any month, or
- you accept more than 70 tonnes or 140 m3 of organic waste in any month and produce less than 50 tonnes of pasteurised material, compost or digestate in any month.
You do not need an A07a licence if you only process organic waste generated on site and keep the processed organic waste on site.
A designation applies to low-risk use of digestate for composting or other secondary processing or use. The designation sets conditions for when you can reclassify digestate as not reportable priority waste.
Exemptions
Under some circumstances, you can apply for a development licence exemption or an operating licence exemption.
Related activities
For smaller amounts of organic waste, you may need an A07b – Organic waste processing (small) registration.
Information to include in your application
When you submit your application in the portal, it must include certain information and supporting evidence. To learn more, visit Apply for a development licence or Apply for an operating licence.
If you're unsure of the type of permission you need, use our free permission pathway process before you start your application.
For this application, you must also provide:
Details of the proposal
Provide a clear description of the activity design and layout, including evidence of your:
- waste and compost product
- infrastructure for receiving, storing and handling residual waste
- technique or technology, equipment and infrastructure you'll use for composting – for example, turners, shredders or screening systems
- infrastructure for managing stormwater and wastewater
- environmental controls.
To help you with your application, use our guidance Designing, constructing and operating composting facilities.
Waste types and sources
Provide a description and evidence of:
- the type of organic waste
- classification of waste by waste code
- how much waste will be dealt with per hour, day and year, and over what period of time, broken down by type of waste and waste code
- maximum storage capacity at any one time (in cubic metres or tonnes for solid waste and litres for liquid waste) broken down by type of waste and waste code
- the composition of the waste, including its chemical characteristics and physical form – for example, liquid, solid or sludge
- the contaminants of concern and their thresholds
- whether the waste is produced from a single and specific operation or multiple and variable sources
- how the waste may vary over the operating life of the proposal.
You may need to include:
- waste audit, characterisation and lab analysis
- waste flow assessments
- waste acceptance protocols.
If you propose to manage waste that is classified as reportable priority waste, include the information needed to apply for A01 – Reportable priority waste management.
Composting techniques and technologies
Provide a description and evidence of:
- an overview of your selected composting techniques or technologies – for example, open environment windrow or enclosed vessel
- justification of why you selected this particular composting technique or technology
- a step-by-step description of your proposed composting process, including:
- waste receival and storage
- pre-processing and mixing
- pasteurisation
- maturation
- post-screening
- product storage
- technical validation showing that your selected composting technique or technology can treat the targeted waste types to the proposed compost product standard
- commissioning or proof of performance plan.
Compost product standard
Provide a description and evidence of:
- your proposed compost product standard that is suitable for its intended purpose, considering the Australian Standard for Composts, soil conditioners and mulches (AS 4454-2012)
- compost product standard testing regime.
Environment controls
Provide a description and evidence of your proposed environment controls – for example:
- construction standards for waste and compost product infrastructure, such as waste or compost pads or wastewater lagoons
- odour controls, such as biofilters
- dust controls
- leachate controls
- emergency management controls
- technical validation for your selected environmental controls.
Consideration of risk of harm to human health and the environment
Provide an assessment that shows your proposed activity will not lead to an unacceptable risk of harm to the environment or human health. Include:
- odour impact assessment following the methods in Guidance for assessing odour
- noise impact assessment using the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial, and trade premises and entertainment venues and Assess low frequency noise
- fire safety study.
Application fee
For a list of current fees and how they're calculated, visit Fees. An extra fee may apply if we need more time than specified in the Regulations to assess your application.
If an application fee applies, we cannot assess your application until we've received and processed this fee.
How long your licence is valid for
If we issued your operating licence before 1 July 2021, there's no expiry date. If we issued it after 1 July 2021, then your licence is valid for:
- up to 99 years for a waste management activity at a current or former landfill site
- up to 20 years in any other case.
The duration of a development licence depends on the activity. This is stated in a condition when we issue the licence. To extend the duration, you must apply for an amendment.
How we assess your application
Find out how we assess your application and how long it takes.
Operating licence conditions
Permission conditions outline the legal obligations for the permission holder. They set up a framework for risk management, record keeping and reporting.
Where a condition includes:
- the word 'placeholder', values will be populated with information that's specific to your site
- a reference to a 'figure' or 'appendix', information will be populated that's specific to your site.
'Authority' means Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Other conditions may apply.
| Condition code | Description |
| OL_G01 | A copy of this licence must be kept at the activity site and be easily accessible to persons who are engaging in an activity conducted at the activity site. Information regarding the requirements of the licence and the Act duties must be included in site induction and training information. |
| OL_G02 | You must immediately notify the Authority by calling 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) in the event of: a) A discharge, emission or deposit which gives rise to, or may give rise to, actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; b) A malfunction, breakdown or failure of risk control measures at the activity site which could reasonably be expected to give rise to actual or potential harm to human health or the environment; or c) Any breach of the licence. |
| OL_G03 | You must notify the Authority within 48 hours of the occurrence of any the following: (a) Any change to your name or address (including your registered address and activity site as applicable); (b) You become, or are likely to become, an insolvent under administration; (c) You become, or are likely to become, an externally administered company under the Corporations Act; or (d) A change to an officer (as defined in the Act). You must update your information in the EPA Interaction Portal if any other relevant administrative details for your business change. |
| OL_G04a | You must provide the Authority with a Permission Information and Performance Statement (PIPS) in the form determined by the Authority within 2 months of receiving notification in writing from the Authority. The PIPS may be released to the public (in whole or in part). |
| OL_G04b | Information and monitoring records used for the preparation of, inclusion in, or support of, any reporting or notification that is required of you by the Authority (including data reporting, performance reporting, documents evidencing any risk and monitoring program) must be: a) retained for five years; and b) made available to the Authority on request. |
| OL_G05 | 1. You must develop a risk management and monitoring program for your activities which: (a) identifies all the risks of harm to human health and the environment which may arise from the activities you are engaging in at your activity site; (b) clearly defines your environmental performance objectives; (c) clearly defines your risk control performance objectives; (d) describes how the environmental and risk control performance objectives are being achieved; (e) identifies and describes how you will continue to eliminate or minimise the risks in 1(a) (above) so far as reasonably practicable (SFARP); and (f) describes how the information collated in compliance with this clause, is or will be disseminated, used or otherwise considered by you or any other entity. 2. The risk management and monitoring program must be: (a) documented in writing; (b) signed by a duly authorised officer of the licensed entity; and (c) made available to the Authority on request. |
| OL_G07 | You must: (a) develop and maintain a decommissioning plan that is in accordance with the current decommissioning guidelines published by the Authority; (b) provide the decommissioning plan to the Authority upon request; (c) supply to the Authority an updated detailed decommissioning plan 40 business days prior to commencement of decommissioning, if you propose to divest a section of the licensed site, cease part or all of the licensed activity or reduce the basis upon which the licence was granted to a point where licensing is no longer required; and (d) decommission the licensed site in accordance with the detailed decommissioning plan, to the satisfaction of the Authority and within any reasonable timeframe which may be specified by the Authority. |
| OL_WA01 | You must ensure all of the following: a) Only waste of a type shown in Appendix 4 of this licence is accepted at the activity site; and b) If it is identified that any waste has been received at the activity site that is of a type not shown in Appendix 4 in contravention of paragraph a) above, such waste must be placed in a designated and sign-posted temporary storage area and sent for disposal to a site licensed by the Authority to receive such waste within 21 days of the date it was received. |
| OL_WM01 | You can store up to [placeholder1 at the activity site at any time. |
| OL_WM04 | You must ensure that waste does not burn at the activity site. |
| OL_WM14 | All plant and equipment must be maintained and operated in proper working condition, in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. |
Conditions for development licences are specific for each licence.
Manage your licence
To amend, transfer or surrender your licence, visit Manage your permission.
For guidance in preparing your application refer to:
- Separation distance guidelines for information on how to select a site and appropriate techniques and technologies
- Australian Standard for composts, soil conditioners and mulches (AS 4454-2012)
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