On 23 July 2026, qldwater held the Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste: Out of Sight, Top of Mind workshop, bringing together trade waste professionals from across Australia to explore practical solutions and emerging challenges in trade waste management.
Through a diverse range of case studies spanning small councils to major utilities, attendees gained valuable insights into the benefits of proactive trade waste management, including how Trade Waste Officer roles can become self-funded services that deliver significant value to water service providers.
Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the Veolia City Links facility on the Gold Coast to see Aerofloat’s landfill leachate treatment facility incorporating PFAS treatment (pictured below).
Trade waste regulatory instruments and approval-based frameworks
by Sarah Hausler & Caitlin Steuart, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
In this presentation, Sarah and Caitlin stepped through the regulatory framework, environmental obligations, approval framework and compliance challenges including a case study for trade waste management.
Where are the contaminants in trade waste coming from?
by Chantal Keane, Urban Utilities, UQ QAEHS
Chantal presented on the outcomes of her PhD research on "Chemical profiling of industrial wastewaters to identify industry sources of contaminants".
The unicorn suburb to provide baseline data for sewage quality
by Georgina Wu, Redland City Council
In this presentation, Georgina explains how a pump station in a new residential suburb became the baseline for sewage quality.
Bondi FOG Source Control Project
by Caleb Furner, Sydney Water
Caleb's presentation focused on a fats, oil and grease source control education program initiated by Sydney Water after Covid data revealed the high levels of O&G relative to domestic wastewater in the Bondi catchment.
A journey beyond compliance to resilience and revenue
by Sabrina McCormack, Douglas Shire Council
Sabrina provided a historical overview of the way trade waste management has evolved at Douglas Shire Council and how the Trade Waste Officer role can be funded through trade waste revenue.
CSI Trade Waste: Managing a trade waste compliance issue
by Jeff Lee and Fiona Irwin from Urban Utilities
Jeff and Fiona showed how they applied Crime Scene Investigation techniques to hunt the bad guys in this engaging case study.
The Trade Waste Toolbox
by Colin Hester, Applied Scientist, Queensland Water Directorate
Here, Col highlights the model trade waste management system elements that he has designed including TWMPs, application forms, approval templates and best management practices as part of the Trade Waste Uplift Project. The resources can be accessed via the qldwater Trade Waste Toolbox.
Aquamation Case Study
by Scott Neilsen, Townsville City Council
This presentation introduces Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, as a sustainable and respectful alternative to traditional burial and cremation. It was presented as a case study from the perspective of Townsville City Council examining the environmental and operational challenges associated with alternative technologies and to share trade waste and regulatory insights to support sustainable end-of-life solutions.
Panel Session: Water Cremation as an emerging issue
by Scott Neilsen, Col Hester and Paul Sandbek (Whitsunday Regional Council)
In this engaging panel session the presenters answer audience questions relating to trade waste approvals for Aquamation services.
Acknowledgements
qldwater sincerely thanks all presenters, participants and contributors who made the workshop a valuable and engaging event and to all the attendees for their active participation and contribution to the conversations that will help shape future collaboration across the water sector.
Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
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Lunch Sponsor 
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Coffee Cart Sponsor 
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Morning Tea Sponsor
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Site Tour Sponsor
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