Find out more about temporary storage of PIW

• What regulations apply to the temporary storage of PIW?

  In most cases, the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017 require occupiers of premises storing PIW, including asbestos to obtain an EPA works approval and licence – under scheduled category A01 'PIW Management'.

  In limited circumstances, the occupier does not require an EPA works approval or licence:

  • Regulations 12(1)(d) and (e) of the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017 allow:

  • an eligible transfer station or an eligible public utility depot to temporarily store asbestos
  • an occupier to temporarily store ‘designated waste’

  • EPA may issue a ‘specific classification’ under regulation 11 of the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009 – this is primarily restricted to the temporary storage of non-friable asbestos by public utilities. Read more about specific classifications.

  Occupiers of premises that are temporarily storing asbestos must also comply with occupational health and safety legislation. See the WorkSafe Victoria website for details.

• When can the occupier of a transfer station temporarily store asbestos without an EPA works approval or licence?

  The key requirements are in regulation 12(1)(d) and 12(1)(d)(i) of the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017. In summary:

  • the premises must have a council planning permit to use the land as a ‘transfer station’
  • the planning permit must allow the occupier to accept asbestos for temporary storage
  • only less than 10 cubic metres of asbestos can be temporarily stored
  • the asbestos must be double-wrapped and non-friable
  • it must not have been generated at the premises
  • it can only be temporarily stored for up to 60 days
  • it must then be transported to a premises licensed by EPA to receive it.

  In addition:

  • the occupier must register the premises as a temporary storage site. 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
  • the occupier must comply with other legal requirements – including council planning permit conditions and WorkSafe requirements on the management of asbestos.

• When can the occupier of a public utility depot temporarily store asbestos without an EPA works approval or licence?

  The key requirements are in regulation 12(1)(d) and 12(1)(d)(ii) of the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017. In summary:

  • The premises must be a ‘public utility depot’ – as defined by regulation 12(2).
  • The public utility depot must be 100 metres or more from sensitive land uses including residential premises, health services, childcare centres and education centres – this is the distance is from the closest boundary of the public utility depot premises to the closest boundary of a sensitive land use.
  • Less than 10 cubic metres of asbestos can be temporarily stored.
  • The asbestos must be double-wrapped and non-friable.
  • It must have been generated by the public utility.
  • It can only be temporarily stored for up to 60 days.
  • It must then be transported to a premises licensed by EPA to receive it.

  In addition:

  • The occupier must register the premises as a temporary storage site. 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.
  • The occupier of the temporary storage site must comply with other legal requirements – including WorkSafe requirements on the management of asbestos.

• What is the difference between friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos?

  Under Regulation 5, Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, friable means that, when dry, the material (a) may be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure; or (b) as a result of a work process become such that it may be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

  The exemption from EPA works approval and licence requirements for temporary storage sites under Regulation 12(1)(d) only applies to non-friable (bonded) asbestos.

• When can an occupier temporarily store designated waste without an EPA works approval or licence?

  The key requirements are in regulation 12(1)(e) of the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017. In summary:

  • Only ‘designated waste’ not generated at the premises can be temporarily stored.
  • Less than 1000 litres of ‘designated waste’ can be temporarily stored.
  • The method of storage must be in accordance with specifications acceptable to EPA – this includes applying EPA’s Liquid storage and handling guidelines (publication 1698).
  • It can only be temporarily stored for up to 60 days.
  • It must then be transported to premises licensed by EPA to receive it.

  In addition:

  • The occupier must register the premises as a temporary storage site. 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.
  • The occupier of the temporary storage site must comply with other legal requirements – including council planning permit conditions and WorkSafe requirements on the management of dangerous goods.

• What is designated waste?

  Designated waste is defined in regulation 12(2) of the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises) Regulations 2017.

  It is prescribed industrial waste, in liquid form, with the following waste code and description:

  Waste code	Description
  D300	Non-toxic salts including sodium chloride and calcium chloride
  J100	Waste oils unfit for their original intended use
  J110	Waste hydrocarbons
  J120	Waste oils and water mixtures or emulsions, and hydrocarbon and water mixtures or emulsions
  J130	Triple interceptor waste and stormwater contaminated with oil or hydrocarbons
  J150	Other oils, hydrocarbons or emulsions not otherwise specified in this item, including cutting oils and soluble oils
  K100	Animal effluent and residues, including abattoir wastes and other wastes from animal processing
  K120	Grease interceptor trap effluent
  K200	Food and beverage processing wastes
  L100	Car and truck washwaters
  L150	Industrial washwaters from cleaning, rinsing or washing operations not otherwise specified in this item
  T130	Inert sludges or slurries

  These waste codes are from Schedule 3 of the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009.

• How should an occupier demonstrate how long the material has been stored for?

  The occupier should keep a record – such as a logbook – of when the material was received and removed. This should include the reference numbers of waste transport certificates.

  Waste transport certificates must be retained for at least two years.

• When does the 60-day time limit on storage of asbestos and designated waste begin?

  The 60-day time limit begins for each quantity of non-friable asbestos or designated waste when it enters the site. This may be monitored using the information in part A and part C of waste transport certificates.