State Government of Victoria

Environment Protection Authority

For business and industry

Construction industry – know where your waste goes

HIA guidance for builders

Building and construction sites create pollution, including different types of waste, noise and dust. As a builder, you can take measures to minimise the impact of your work on the health of people and the environment.

It's your job to dispose of all forms of waste properly.

Industrial waste resource guidelines + Expand all Collapse all

Waste transportation guidance + Expand all Collapse all

  • Do I need a permit to transport waste? If you are transporting prescribed industrial waste (PIW) for a fee or reward you must have a permit for the vehicle regardless of the quantity. To identify whether the waste is PIW please refer to the Industrial Waste Resource Guidelines.
  • If I am transporting my own waste do I need a permit? A waste transporter transporting PIW, for no fee or reward, where the net load is less than 50 kilograms or litres, is exempted from the requirement to hold a permit.
  • Who can apply for a new permit? Both businesses and individuals can apply for a vehicle permit. The vehicle owner, company nominee or the vehicle lessee can apply.
  • How do I apply for a new permit?

    To apply for a new vehicle permit, please go to the EPA Interaction Portal to register. The publication  Permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (publication IWRG811) provides guidance on how to apply for a new permit.

    Both businesses and individuals can apply for a vehicle permit.

    Whether you are a business or an individual, you must select ‘Register as a business’ when creating an account in the EPA Interaction Portal. 

     

     
  • Who can register on the EPA Interaction Portal?

    Any business or individual can register on the EPA Interaction Portal.

    Whether you are a business or an individual, you must select ‘Register as a business’ when creating an account in the EPA Interaction Portal to apply for a new permit.
  • I am already registered on the EPA Interaction Portal. Do I need to register again to access the new online vehicle permit form? No, if you are already registered on the EPA Interaction Portal you don't need to register again. Please be aware that the name registered on the account will be the name in which the new vehicle permit will be issued. If you are applying for a new vehicle permit under a different name (different individual or business) please register on the portal under a new name. If the applicant is a business, the name entered at the registration time will have to be identical to the name on the certificate of incorporation.
  • Do I need to register on the EPA Interaction Portal if I am an existing customer who transports prescribed indutrial waste (PIW)? Yes, if you are an existing customer who transports PIW, you need to register on the EPA Interaction Portal, unless you've already got an EPA portal account. Please call our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) if you need more guidance on how to access the vehicle permit online form.
  • Can I register on the portal without being the owner of the vehicle? Yes, you can if you are leasing the vehicle. Please be aware that the name registered on the account will be the name in which the vehicle permit will be issued. If you are applying for a new vehicle permit under a different name (individual or business) please register on the portal under a new name.
  • I'm a vehicle lessee permit applicant, what information do I need to provide to EPA?

    The minimum information required to enable EPA to process applications from vehicle lessees should be contained in a lease agreement that includes the following:

    • the names of the parties in the agreement
    • the date of the agreement
    • vehicle details (including registration number)
    • conditions of the agreement:
      • duration of the agreement
      • commencement date
      • who is responsible for what (as a minimum, including 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)
      • signatures of the lessor and the lessee.
  • Do I need driver training to obtain a vehicle permit?

    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.

  • What if my vehicle body type is not listed on the application form? Select 'non-standard' and fill in the 'list all methods of assembly' text box. If you have any questions, please contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • What is a letter from the director of the company? When do I need to attach to the vehicle permit application form? This is a letter on company letterhead confirming that the applicant is applying on behalf of the company. It is always needed for company applications. There is a specific field allocated for uploading this letter which comes after the upload field for driver's licence (refer to the application details tab).
  • What happens if I get an error message when submitting an application form? The error message will indicate the reason for the error and you will need to address this before you can submit. If you need help you can contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • What is a vehicle body type and where can I find information about this? Vehicle guidance: non-tanker vehicle/trailers  (IWRG 814) and Vehicle guidance: tanker/tanker trailer (IWRG816) and the vehicle features/fittings photograph guide provides information on types of feature/fittings that your vehicle may have in place depending on the waste type you wish to transport, the waste code requirements and the type of vehicle you have.
  • What are the vehicle requirements for transporting asbestos waste and contaminated soil?

    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).
  • What happens if I dont declare a relevant offence or if I submit false information Applicants should be aware that it is an offence under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to intentionally or negligently provide incorrect or misleading information to EPA or to conceal information from EPA. EPA may cancel a permit if satisfied that information in the online application for the permit was false or misleading. The declarations made at the end of the form provide legal grounds for any immediate cancellation of the permit and prosecution if any false information or fraud is detected. Section 24 of the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009 establishes the cancellation of permits for providing false or misleading information.
  • Do I need to complete the application form on the same day I've created it? No, your application can be kept as a draft for 7 days after the day it was created. You can access the application as many times as you want over those 7 days. If the application is not completed within 7 days of being started, the application status will change to 'cancelled'.
  • How long does the permit last for? A permit is valid for 12 months. A renewal invoice will be issued approximately 2 months before the permit is due to expire.
  • How long does it take to obtain a new permit?

    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.
  • I get an error message when entering the vehicle registration number. Why?

    This error can mean different things. Ensure you have all the correct details of the vehicle registration number, and owner's name with you as you fill in the online form.

    • Confirm that there isn't typo in the registration number.
    • If you are not a lessee, make sure that the name or company name used to register on the EPA portal matches the one provided to VicRoads as the owner of the vehicle. If it doesn't, either create a new portal account with the matching name or company name OR get the vehicle transferred in VicRoads to the company name and then apply again.
    • If you are a lessee, make sure that there is no typo in the vehicle owner's name field.

    The body type does not affect the registration number check.

    If this still doesn't solve your issue, please contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • Is there an application fee required for a new application? If so, how much is the application fee and when am I required to make the payment? When you submit your application, you will be notified by email of the application fee amount which will need to be paid within 7 days from the date of the notification of payment. Payment reference details will be provided with this notification.
  • What does the due date on the landing page mean and why does it change after I have made the payment?

    For applications that have been submitted:

    After you have submitted your application the date displayed represents the timeframe you have to make payment. Once you have made payment, the system calculates the 21 day timeframe that EPA has to issue your permit.

    For applications that have been saved as a draft:

    After you save your application as a draft, the due date that will display represents the timeframe you have to complete your application. If you don't complete your application in this timeframe, your application will be cancelled.
  • How do I make the payment for a new vehicle permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (PIW) You can pay your application by phone or by cheque. Please contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) for payment details.
  • I want to amend my exisiting permit. Can I use the online form to apply for an amendment? No, currently the online form is only for new permits. To amend an existing permit, including changes to waste types, number plate change or company name change, complete the Application for amendment of permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (form F1008) and send it as a PDF or Word document to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au
  • I want to transfer my permit to another business. Can I use the online form to apply for the transfer? No, the online form is only for new permits. To transfer a permit, the new vehicle owner to whom the permit is to be transferred, will need to complete the Application for transfer of permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (form F1010) and send it as a PDF or Word document to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au.
  • What if I can't log into my account? Please contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • What type of information should I attach when submitting a new application form?

    For an application as an individual, please ensure that you have the following documents scanned and ready to be uploaded:

    • driver's licence
    • vehicle registration certificate
    • statutory declaration of the person who has committed a relevant offence (if applicable)

    If you are making an application on behalf of a company, please ensure that you have the following documents scanned and ready to be uploaded:

    • driver's licence of the applicant
    • vehicle registration certificate
    • letter from the director of the company
    • statutory declaration(s) of the person who has committed a relevant offence (at an individual or corporate level as applicable).

    AS2809 tanker design approval (for tanker applicants applying for flammable liquid).

    Lease agreement (for lessee applicants).

    Permit to transport prescribed industrial waste (IWRG811) provides guidance on which documents are required when applying for a new permit.

    Please note that the size limit per attachment is 10MB.

    Image files must be submitted in one of the following formats:

    • .ai - Adobe Illustrator file
    • .bmp - bitmap image
    • .gif - GIF image
    • .ico - Icon file
    • .jpeg or .jpg - JPEG image
    • .png - PNG image
    • .ps - PostScript file
    • .psd - PSD image
    • .svg - scalable vector graphics file
    • .tif or .tiff - TIFF image

    Document files must be submitted in one of the following formats:

    • .doc and .docx - Microsoft Word file
    • .odt - OpenOffice Writer document file
    • .pdf - PDF file
    • .rtf - rich text format
    • .tex - A LaTeX document file
    • .txt - plain text file
    • .wks and .wps- Microsoft Works file
    • .wpd - WordPerfect document
    • .csv - Comma separated value file
    • .ppt - PowerPoint presentation
    • .pptx - PowerPoint Open XML presentation
    • .csv - Comma separated value file
  • How do I set up my vehicle to transport prescribed industrial waste?

    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.

    Further information can be sought from the Victorian Waste Management Association.
  • What happens if I don't provide all the relevant information? The system won't let you proceed if you don't provide all the attachments required. However, if you believe you need to submit more information after submitting your online application, please contact our customer support team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • Where can I dispose of prescribed industrial waste? Facilities licensed by EPA to dispose of waste can be found by using the prescribed industrial waste database on the EPA website.
  • Where can I dispose of industrial wastewater inert sludges and slurries?

    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) .
  • Where do I find the waste codes for a given prescribed industrial waste? Waste codes are described in Industrial Waste Resource Guidelines Waste Codes (EPA publication IWRG822).
  • Can I transfer my permit to a new vehicle? No you must submit a new permit application for the new vehicle.
  • If there is a change to the vehicle registration number, waste codes or business name, what do I do?

    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.
  • What happens if my vehicle is sold?

    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.
  • How do I obtain a replacement permit document or sticker? Send a request by email to wasteissues@epa.vic.gov.au. EPA will process the request and mail the permit sticker within 7 days.
  • How do I get waste transport certificates?

    If you are a producer, accredited agent or transporter, once your registration for the EPA Interaction Portal has been finalised and you have received your log in details, electronic waste transport certificates will be automatically allocated to your account.

    Help with your waste transport certificates
  • If transporting asbestos or designated waste (liquid 30XY) to/from a temporary storage site that is covered by Regulation 12 (1)(d) or (e) of the Scheduled Premises Regulations 2017, do I need a waste transport certificate?

    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.
  • What is an accredited agent? An accredited agent is a person or company authorised by EPA Victoria to carry out certain functions on behalf of a waste producer. Further information can be found here.
  • How do I obtain accredited agent authorisation?

    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.
  • If I am transporting waste across state borders do I need special approval?

    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.
  • Movement of controlled waste from interstate to Victoria

    The movement of controlled waste from interstate to Victoria is managed by the National Environment Protection (Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories) Measure (NEPM).

    Requirements for the movement of controlled waste from interstate to Victoria are provided in Movement of controlled waste into Victoria (publication IWGR831). The application form is available on the waste transportation forms page.
  • Movement of prescribed industrial waste from Victoria to interstate

    The interstate movement of prescribed industrial waste (PIW) from Victoria is managed under both:

    Requirements for the movement of PIW from Victoria are provided in Movement of industrial waste from Victoria (publication IWGR832). The application forma is available on the waste transportation forms page.

    Certificate books for the interstate movement of PIW can be purchased form EPA by calling our customer service team on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).
  • If I am sending waste overseas do I need special approval? Yes, a permit must be obtained from the Department of Environment, Canberra,  ACT on 1800 803 772

Page last updated on 15 Jun 2020