Bylaws Under Review

Metro Vancouver collects, treats and discharges domestic and non-domestic wastes in accordance with a Liquid Waste Management Plan authorized by the Minister of Environment. The management of non-domestic waste is regulated by Sewer Use Bylaw No. 299. The bylaw contains a framework to allow industrial, commercial and institutional non-domestic waste to be discharged to the sewer.

Grease Trap Regulation

To keep grease from commercial kitchens out of the sewer, Metro Vancouver is revising grease trap maintenance requirements to make sure grease traps are kept in working order. If the regulation is approved, commercial kitchen operators would be required by law to:

remove grease from the grease trap at least once per month;
have the grease trap fully pumped out at least four times per year by a waste management company; and
record all grease removal activities on a grease trap maintenance record

Metro Vancouver will be consulting with commercial kitchen operators across the Lower Mainland to receive feedback about the proposed changes.

If you own or manage a kitchen in a restaurant, cafeteria or supermarket, we want to hear from you! Please visit the Metro Vancouver website at

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/permits/GreaseTrapRegulation/Pages/default.aspx

to fill out an online feedback form, and for more information on the proposed changes.

Issue Paper for Revisions to Metro Vancouver’s Food Sector Code of Practice

Additional Regulated Contaminants

In 2009, the Canadian Council of the Ministers of Environment (CCME) distributed a finalized Model Sewer Use Bylaw guidance document. The Model Bylaw was developed as a tool to assist Canadian municipalities and communities in implementing source controls for contaminants discharged to community sewer systems. The Model Bylaw is part of the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent to harmonize the management approach for municipal wastewater in Canadian provinces, territories and on federal and Aboriginal lands.

The CCME Model Bylaw contains a number of contaminants not included in Metro Vancouver’s Sewer Use Bylaw No. 299. Consequently, Metro Vancouver is considering updating the contaminants regulated through its Sewer Use Bylaw. Based upon staff review of the CCME Model Bylaw contaminant list as well as local information, the following substances and limits are recommended for consultation on inclusion in Metro Vancouver’s Sewer Use Bylaw at this time:

Contaminant	Proposed Bylaw Limit (mg/L)
Chloroform	0.05
Dichlorobenzene (1,2-)	0.09
Dichlorobenzene (1,4-)	0.09
Ethylbenzene	0.06
Ethylhexyl phthalate (bis 2-)	0.012
Methylene Chloride (dichloromethane)	0.09
Nonylphenols	0.02
Nonylphenol Ethoxylates	0.2
PCBs (chlorobiphenyls)	0.004
Tetrachloroethane (1,1,2,2-)	0.06
Toluene	0.08
Trichloroethylene	0.06
Xylenes, total	0.3
Pesticides	Prohibited Waste (rinse water from pesticide containers)

While the list is not exhaustive, it is a significant step in the continual process towards development of a comprehensive list of restricted and prohibited contaminants for the Bylaw.

Staff has produced an issue paper to elicit informed comment from interested parties on these potential Bylaw changes. This issue paper has been prepared for use in consultation and is attached for information. Consultation with affected stakeholders is proposed to begin immediately and conclude in 2011.

Issue Paper - Proposed Revisions to Metro Vancouver’s Prohibited and Restricted Wastes

Review of Contaminants Regulated by the Sewer Use Bylaw

Background Document - Contaminant Review

CCME Model Bylaw - Derivation of Bylaw Limits

Contact

Jeffrey Gogol

Environmental Regulatory Planner