Trade Waste Bylaw and Trade Waste Discharge Plan 2026

Closes: 18/09/2026

The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 requires councils to prepare and implement a Trade Waste Discharge Plan to regulate trade waste in their districts.

To meet these new legislative requirements, the DCC is proposing:

• A new Trade Waste Discharge Plan (‘Plan’)
• A new Trade Waste Bylaw 2026 (‘Bylaw’)

These documents have been developed together and will work as an integrated framework for managing trade waste discharges across Dunedin.

Although the existing Trade Waste Bylaw 2020 has been operating effectively, legislative changes mean some provisions need to be updated and redistributed between the new Plan and Bylaw.

The proposed Plan and Bylaw will help ensure the DCC can continue to protect its wastewater infrastructure, public health, and the environment through the effective management of trade waste discharges to the DCC wastewater network.

Key proposed changes

Most of the proposed changes are administrative in nature. The overall approach to managing trade waste in Dunedin remains largely unchanged.

All trade waste dischargers will require a permit

Under the current framework, some low-risk trade waste discharges can be registered with the DCC without a permit.

The proposed framework requires all trade waste dischargers to hold a discharge permit, aligning with the approach in the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025.

New infringement offences and fees

The proposed Bylaw includes infringement offences and associated fees established under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025.

These proposed changes provide an additional enforcement tool to support compliance and help protect the wastewater network.

Updated structure

Many existing requirements from the Trade Waste Bylaw 2020 have been moved between the proposed Plan and proposed Bylaw to align with the structure required under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025.

What is trade waste?

Trade waste refers to any wastewater or liquid waste generated from industrial, commercial, trade, or related activities and discharged into the wastewater network. It also includes tankered waste and contaminated stormwater (such as trench water). Trade waste does not include domestic wastewater or any other waste specifically excluded under the Trade Waste Discharge Plan.

Effective management of trade waste helps protect:

• Public health
• The environment
• Council wastewater infrastructure
• The safe and reliable operation of Dunedin's wastewater system

Where to from here?

• Public submissions period closes 5pm Friday 18 September.
• Hearings will be held in October/November 2026. The Hearings Committee will consider submissions and make recommendations to Council.
• The Council considers the recommendations and decides on any changes.
• The Council adopts a new Trade Waste Bylaw and Trade Waste Discharge Plan.

Have your say

What do you think about the proposed Trade Waste Bylaw and Trade Waste Discharge Plan? Are proposed changes appropriate? Please fill out the submission form so we can take your views into account.

Consultation documents

• Statement of Proposal (PDF, 694.1 KB, new window)
• Proposed Trade Waste Bylaw (PDF, 639.5 KB, new window)
• Proposed Trade Waste Discharge Plan (PDF, 690.3 KB, new window)
• Trade Waste Bylaw 2020
• Trade Waste Bylaw and Trade Waste Discharge Plan submission form (PDF, 141.1 KB, new window)

Consultation details

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