Hauled Sewage Program Permits

What is a generator permit? 

A generator permit grants a business permission to discharge hauled industrial sewage into the City’s sewer system at a hauled sewage receiving facility. Discharge may be carried out directly by the generator or through a secondary waste hauler carrier. This permit is not required for businesses that generate only domestic waste. 

Generators are not permitted to discharge their waste into the City’s sewer system without a permit. If a hauler collects waste from an unpermitted generator, they will be prohibited from discharging the waste into the City’s sewer system. The generator and hauler need to communicate the types of waste being generated and collected to ensure compliance with the Sewer Use By-law

If the carrier is not provided with a generator permit number from the industrial generator, then the waste cannot be discharged at a City facility. The industrial generator would need to apply for and obtain a generator permit.

How do you obtain a generator permit?

To obtain a permit, you must submit a completed application package to Hamilton Water’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement group via email [email protected].

 Your application package should include:

a certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory comparing the generator’s hauled sewage against Schedule B of the Sewer-Use Bylaw. This should be a representative sample of the waste being hauled.

Who is responsible for collecting samples of hauled sewage?

The generator of hauled industrial waste.

Where/how does the generator have their waste samples tested?

Any sampling data that is submitted must have been collected pursuant to Part 6 of the Sewer Use By-law, as amended, at the expense of the Applicant.

Part 6 of the By-law details that, the analysis, 

1. is performed by an accredited laboratory; 

(ii)uses a reference method which is within the laboratory’s scope of accreditation;

(iii)for each of the metals in Schedule B or Schedule C, measures the quantity of total metal including both dissolved and particulate metal; and 

(iv)is of a grab sample or a composite sample which may be collected manually or by an automatic sampling device.

What should the waste samples be tested against?

All parameters under Schedule B of the Sewer Use Bylaw, as amended. Sewer Use By-law | City of Hamilton

Where do I collect my samples from?

Samples must be collected from a location that is representative of the proposed discharge. This should be the location where the carrier is expected to pick up the waste.

How long is a generator permit valid for?

3 years from the date of issuance.

What are the costs of a generator permit?

There is currently no cost associated with applying for a generator permit.

Does the carrier inform the generator of permit requirements?

The carrier is not responsible for advising generators of permit requirements, however, should the hauler collect waste from an unpermitted generator, they will not be able to discharge the waste in the City’s sewer system. The generator and hauler need to communicate the types of waste being generated and collected to ensure compliance with the Sewer Use By-law.

How does a generator know they need a permit?

This stipulation is laid out in Section 9.6 of the Sewer Use Bylaw. It is also listed on the City’s Hauled Sewage webpage. Communication with the City (email, via guards, etc.) will also advise of this requirement. 

How does a carrier know whether the generator has a permit?

Carriers should communicate and verify with the generator that the facility has a valid permit before collecting waste from their site. Hamilton Water’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Unit may also assist in confirming whether a facility has a valid generator permit.