Program update
November 7, 2025
On October 31, 2025, the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) Board approved fee increases for trucked liquid waste discharges at Metro Vancouver facilities. These fees will go into effect on
January 1, 2026.
For more information, please see the
November 2025 newsletter.
Metro Vancouver’s
GVS&DD Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw No. 345, 2021, protects sewer workers, infrastructure and the environment by regulating the management and discharge of trucked liquid waste in the region.
Domestic trucked liquid waste facilities were established in order to provide a location for the discharge of domestic waste from locations that are not connected to a municipal sanitary sewer such as waste from septic tanks, holding tanks and portable toilets.
A non-domestic trucked liquid waste facility was established for waste from businesses that cannot be discharged to the sewer. Authorization for each non-domestic trucked liquid waste source must be obtained prior to disposal.
Haulers and use of Metro Vancouver trucked liquid waste facilities
Residents or businesses must employ a waste disposal company that has access privileges to our facilities, known as a “hauler”, to transport the waste to a trucked liquid waste facility for discharge and treatment.
Metro Vancouver currently operates domestic trucked liquid waste facilities at the Annacis Island, Iona Island and Northwest Langley wastewater treatment plants and a non-domestic trucked liquid waste facility at the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The trucked liquid waste haulers are charged a fee at the disposal facilities based on the type of discharge:
In-region trucked liquid waste discharge fees for 2025-2026, and forecasted fees for 2027-2028
| | 2025 discharge fee ($/m3) | 2026 discharge fee ($/m3) | Forecasted 2027 discharge fee ($/m3) | Forecasted 2028 discharge fee ($/m3) |
|---|
| In-region domestic waste | $53 | $72 | $84 | 94 |
| In-region non-domestic waste | $96 | $117 | $133 | $150 |
Forecasted fees for 2027 to 2028 are subject to change. Actual fees will be calculated and presented annually, based on that year’s budget.
Metro Vancouver’s wastewater treatment plants are designed and funded based on wastewater generated from within the region. In recent years, Metro Vancouver trucked liquid waste facilities have seen an increase in out-of-region trucked liquid waste. There is a need to address out-of-region waste and ensure that each region adequately plans and manages their own waste.
The Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw restricts discharges of trucked liquid waste from outside the region. Only in exceptional circumstances within neighbouring jurisdictions, Metro Vancouver may consider and authorize out-of-region trucked liquid waste through a review process.
If authorized, discharges of out-of-region trucked liquid waste will be subject to higher rates than in-region trucked liquid waste to recover the additional costs of processing these requests.
Out-of-region trucked liquid waste discharge fees for 2026
| | 2026 discharge fee ($/m3) *
|
|---|
| Out-of-region domestic waste | $90 |
| Out-of-region non-domestic waste | $144
|
* Based on domestic trucked liquid waste discharge fee of $53/m, effective March 1, 2025
GVS&DD Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw No. 345, 2021,
Trucked Liquid Waste Amending Bylaw No. 352, 2022, and
Trucked Liquid Waste Amending Bylaw No. 360, 2022 describe the specific conditions under which an out-of-region discharge may be authorized. Out-of-region discharges are only accepted with valid out-of-region discharge number issued after October 28, 2022.
For inquiries regarding out-of-region trucked liquid waste discharge requests, please contact
truckedliquidwaste@metrovancouver.org. Applications will be processed as time permits.
Septic tank disposal fees: information for residents
Homes that are not directly connected to sewers use septic tanks to collect their wastewater. Metro Vancouver’s fees are only one component of what private haulers typically charge residents for pump-out services.
How septic tank waste disposal works
Every three to five years (on average), homeowners hire private hauling companies to pump out and clean residential septic tanks, collect the septic tank waste, and dispose of this waste at authorized facilities that meet regulatory requirements.
Metro Vancouver charges discharge fees to recover the costs associated with treating septic tank waste at specialized intake facilities at three of its regional wastewater treatment plants. These costs include maintaining treatment processes and testing to ensure processes are complying with regulations.
Septic waste disposal fee for 2026
| Septic tank/home size | Estimated cost to residents, per pump-out*
| Cost haulers will pay Metro Vancouver to dispose of septic tank contents *
| Average resident’s costs for septic tank pump-out by hauler |
|---|
| 800-gallon tank (3 m3), typical for a one to two-bedroom home | $69
| $262
| $550 to $950
|
| 1200-gallon tank (4.5 m3), typical for a three to four-bedroom home | $104
| $393
|
* Based on domestic trucked liquid waste discharge fee of $53/m
3, effective March 1, 2025
Annual fee review
In previous years, Metro Vancouver’s trucked liquid waste fees have not fully recovered all costs associated with treating the wastewater that has been brought to its facilities by private haulers. Metro Vancouver's Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw is amended annually with updated fees to recover the costs of treating trucked liquid waste and help ensure that all residents are paying their fair share of wastewater treatment costs.
Metro Vancouver’s
GVS&DD Trucked Liquid Waste Amending Bylaw No. 391, 2025, discharge fees for 2026.