Mechanical repair wastes that go down the drain into the sanitary sewer, storm drains or septic system can cause structural damage to both your private property and public infrastructure and impact the wastewater treatment process including septic systems.

Some waste can cause blockages while others are highly toxic and/or corrosive even in small concentrations. Damaged pipes can allow waste to escape harming the environment and can allow rainwater in which can cause flooding at your work site, or increase loading to your septic systems or a wastewater treatment plant.

Waste generators are required to comply with all federal, provincial, municipal and regional regulations for proper waste disposal.

Under the Provincial Environmental Management Act and the Federal Fisheries Act, a waste generator may be held liable for any contamination or harm created as a result of the deposition or discharge of that waste. Proper disposal and management of wastes significantly reduces risks of environmental contamination and the requirement for remediation.

Proper storage, inventory of products and wastes, spills response plans and employee education on managing mechanical repair wastes are important factors in keeping our receiving waters clean.

To help you meet other municipal, provincial or federal conditions, other agencies that may have additional requirements use BizPaL to help you identify additional permits and licenses required to operate your business.

All industrial, commercial or institutional facilities that discharge non-domestic wastewater to the sanitary sewer system operated by the CRD must follow the requirements of the CRD Sewer Use Bylaw No. 2922. The mechanical repair sector, as with many other sectors, have specific requirements under a code of practice within the Sewer Use Bylaw.

Code of Practice for Automotive Repair Operations prescribes the requirements and conditions for preventing or limiting the discharge of prohibited and restricted wastes into the sanitary sewer system.

The following is a summary of the key requirements under the Bylaw and Code of Practice (Schedule "M").

• Install a properly sized oil-water separator (Schedule "M" Section 2.6)
• Install a monitoring point (Schedule "M" Sections 2.10 (a), (b) - 2.11)
• Properly maintain the oil-water separator (Schedule "M" Sections 2.12- 2.16)
• Keep complete maintenance records of oil-water separator (Schedule M Section 5.0)
• Properly store and contain automotive liquids and wastes (Schedule "M" Section 3.0)
• Have a spill response plan posted (Schedule "M" Section 4.0)
• Waste from washrooms must not flow through treatment works

or

Mechanical repair facilities can disconnect their non-domestic drains from the sewer system and become a "dry shop."

• Properly store and contain automotive liquids and wastes (Schedule M Section 3.0)
• Have a spill response plan posted (Schedule M Section 4.0)
• Keep a record of mechanical repair liquid and solid wastes that are picked-up for disposal
• More information on the Code of Practice for Automotive Repair Operations and the Sewer Use Bylaw

Please submit a Waste Discharge Assessment Form if you are unsure whether this code of practice applies to your business.

Although compliance with Sewer Use Bylaw may help you meet other municipal, provincial or federal conditions, other agencies may have additional requirements. Use BizPaL to help you identify additional permits and licenses required to operate your business.

Prevent stormwater contamination and protect our aquatic environment by ensuring that mechanical repair waste does not enter the storm drain network (which includes ditches, catch basins and roadways, etc.).

• Educate staff about the spill prevention and response.
• When hosing or washing equipment or surfaces outside, do not let the runoff water enter the storm drain.
• Regularly inspect and maintain any parking lot catch basins.
• Store waste products under covered areas with appropriate spill containment.

If you operate on the Saanich Peninsula (North Saanich, Central Saanich and Sidney) then you need to know about Bylaw No. 4168 requirements.

Liquid waste haulers can be hired to responsibly manage any fluids associated with mechanical repair operation.

• Trucked liquid waste directory

It is important to note that the waste generator retains ownership of the waste even after it has been turned over to a waste hauler. This means the generator can be held responsible for the consequences of a spill or improper disposal of waste.

For that reason it is important to ensure that the hauler you hire can demonstrate that they are:

• properly licensed,
• have properly trained staff, and
• will deal with your waste in a safe, responsible, legal and diligent manner.