The application form for vehicle permits can be downloaded from the waste transportation forms section on the EPA website.

See Permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (publication IWRG811) for guidance on how to apply.

See How do I complete a vehicle permit form? to learn more about selecting and completing the right form for your application.

The minimum information required to enable EPA to process applications from vehicle lessees includes:

• Who is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is fit for the purpose of transporting the prescribed industrial waste to be specified in the permit, and for maintaining the insurance policy.
• Lease agreement signed and dated by both parties.

Only drivers who have undertaken training provided by the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA) can drive the vehicle. The VWMA can be contacted through their VWMA or by phone 03 9646 8590.

Vehicles carrying asbestos and contaminated soil in a quantity of 500 kg/litres or more are considered as placarded loads, and must have the Dangerous Goods “Class 9” labels on the front and rear of the vehicle. If the waste is carried in secondary containers (e.g. wheely bins), these units must be secured to the tray of the vehicle using load restraining devices.

Asbestos (packages and bulk loads) must be protected from adverse weather conditions using waterproof tarp covers (e.g. 650 gram PVC tarpaulin with acrylic lacquer on the top side, enveloped sides and tie downs). Higher vehicles must be fitted with retractable tarps or roll-on roll-off type tarp covers.

The driver’s cabin and load carrying area should be physically separated by a solid partition.

Guidance on the vehicle requirements is provided in Vehicle guidance: Non-tanker vehicles/trailers (EPA publication IWRG814) and a summary of the requirements is available in Appendix 1 of this document. A vehicle features/fittings photograph guide is also available on the EPA website.

Asbestos waste must be appropriately packaged in accordance with the requirements of Asbestos transport and disposal (EPA publication IWRG611).

EPA must issue the permit or reject the application within 21 days of receipt of a complete application and the relevant application fee, or 21 days after receiving any additional information requested by us, whichever is the later.

To help EPA process an application more efficiently, the applicant must ensure that they provide all the required information as detailed in the vehicle permit application form and relevant guidance material. Guidance and forms can be found on the waste transportation forms page of the EPA website.

Delays can occur when applications are incomplete.

The EPA has guidelines on vehicle standards which describe the vehicle feature/fittings requirements applicable to each vehicle type and the associated permitted waste codes.

• Vehicle guidance: Non-tanker vehicles/trailers (publication IWRG814)
• Vehicle guidance: Tanker/tanker trailer (publication IWRG816)
• Vehicle features/fittings photograph guide

Further information can be sought from the Victorian Waste Management Association.

Waste effluent discharges into the environment are subject to works approvals and licensing.  An exemption from these statutory processes is provided where an effluent reuse scheme meets EPA specifications. Further information can be found in the  Industrial Water Reuse (publication IWRG632) .

You must submit an application to amend your permit. The application should be emailed to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA must amend, or refuse to amend, a permit within 21 days after receiving a complete application and the relevant application fee.

You can surrender your permit at any time by returning the permit statutory document along with a written request. You will be advised of the receipt of the request and if a pro-rata refund is applicable. The pro-rata refund can take up to 30 days to be issued once the surrender has been finalised.

Alternatively, if you are the new vehicle owner, you can apply to transfer the permit into your name by submitting an application to transfer the permit. Email the application to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA will acknowledge receipt of the application and advise the value of the fee once assessment of your application is complete.

EPA must process the transfer within 21 days of receipt of a complete application and the relevant application fee, or 21 days after receiving any additional information requested by us, whichever is the later.

Electronic waste transport certificates must be purchased from EPA before a certificate can be created and submitted. Enquiries and purchases can be made by calling EPA Customer Support on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).

You can no longer buy paper waste transport certificates. Paper or electronic certificates can be used until 30 June 2019.

EPA will phase out all paper certificates by 1 July 2019.

Help with your waste transport certificates

Yes, the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009 require prescribed industrial waste (PIW) to be transported in permitted vehicles and using waste transport certificates.

To enable the temporary storage of asbestos or designated waste (liquid 30XY) at an unlicensed site, the occupier must register the premises as a temporary storage site on EPA's website portal. This will enable waste transport certificates to be completed (as required by the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009).

The material must be legally transported to and from the temporary storage site.

Email your completed application to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au. Granting accredited agent status is not automatic. Authorisation is based on a demonstrated knowledge of, and compliance with, the permit and waste transport certificate system. Assessment takes three to six months. There is no fee applicable; however, the transporter must satisfy the requirements.

Further information can be found here.

You must obtain a consignment authorisation from the environment protection agency in the receiving state prior to the movement of prescribed industrial waste. There are also requirements, under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009 for the movement of non-liquid PIW (solids and sludges) to another state or territory from Victoria.

• Guidance on the movement of controlled waste into Victoria.
• Guidance on the movement of prescribed industrial waste from Victoria.
• Application forms for transportation of prescribed industrial waste across state borders.