Program update
January 31, 2025
On January 31, 2025 the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District board adopted to increase trucked liquid waste fees to achieve full cost recovery by 2027.
Fee increases for 2025 and beyond
Effective March 1, 2025, trucked liquid waste discharge fees will increase to $53/m3 for domestic waste and $96/m3 for non-domestic waste, as outlined in the Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw and provided in the tables below. Trucked liquid waste fees are set annually, along with a multi-year rate forecast.
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments about trucked liquid waste fees, please contact the project team at
LWSbylaws@metrovancouver.org.
Metro Vancouver’s
GVS&DD Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw No. 345, 2021, protects sewer workers, infrastructure and the environment by regulating the management and discharge of trucked liquid waste in the region.
Domestic trucked liquid waste facilities were established in order to provide a location for the discharge of domestic waste from locations that are not connected to a municipal sanitary sewer such as waste from septic tanks, holding tanks and portable toilets.
A non-domestic trucked liquid waste facility was established for waste from businesses that cannot be discharged to the sewer. Authorization for each non-domestic trucked liquid waste source must be obtained prior to disposal.
Haulers and use of Metro Vancouver trucked liquid waste facilities
Residents or businesses must employ a waste disposal company that has access privileges to our facilities, known as a “hauler”, to transport the waste to a trucked liquid waste (TLW) facility for discharge and treatment.
Metro Vancouver currently operates domestic trucked liquid waste facilities at the Annacis Island, Iona Island and Northwest Langley Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and a non-domestic trucked liquid waste facility at the Iona Island WWTP.
The trucked liquid waste haulers are charged a fee at the disposal facilities based on the type of discharge:
In-region trucked liquid waste discharge fees for 2025, and forecasted fees for 2026-2027
| | Discharge Fee ($/m3)
Effective Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2025 | Discharge Fee ($/m3)
Effective Mar 1, 2025 | Forecasted 2026 Discharge fee ($/m3) | Forecasted 2027 Discharge fee ($/m3) |
|---|
| In-region domestic waste | $44.17 | $53
| $80 | $103
|
| In-region non-domestic waste | $79.30 | $96 | $125 | $162 |
Forecasted fees for 2026 to 2027 are subject to change. Actual fees will be calculated and presented annually, based on that year’s budget.
Metro Vancouver’s wastewater treatment Plants are designed and funded based on wastewater generated from within the region. In recent years, Metro Vancouver trucked liquid waste facilities have seen an increase in out-of-region trucked liquid waste. There is a need to address out-of-region waste and ensure that each region adequately plans and manages their own waste.
The Trucked Liquid Waste Bylaw restricts discharges of trucked liquid waste from outside the region. Only in exceptional circumstances within neighbouring jurisdictions, Metro Vancouver may consider and authorize out-of-region trucked liquid waste through a review process.
If authorized, discharges of out-of-region trucked liquid waste will be subject to higher rates than in-region trucked liquid waste to recover the additional costs of processing these requests.
Out-of-region trucked liquid waste discharge fees for 2025
| | Discharge Fee ($/m3)
Effective Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2025 | Discharge Fee ($/m3)
Effective Mar 1, 2025* |
|---|
| Out-of-region domestic waste | $65.08 | $69 |
| Out-of-region non-domestic waste | $113.04 | $125
|
* Out-of-region discharges only accepted with valid out-of-region discharge number issued after October 28, 2022
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. 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. Costs to dispose of septic tank waste at Metro Vancouver wastewater treatment plants are increasing in 2025. 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 increases for 2025
| Size septic tank/home | Estimated cost increase to residents, per pump-out* | Cost haulers will pay Metro Vancouver to dispose of septic tank contents * | Average cost of a septic tank pump-out (charged by hauler) |
|---|
| 800-gallon tank (3 m3), typical for a one to two-bedroom home | $65 | $159 | $500 to $800 |
| 1200-gallon tank (4.5 m3), typical for a three to four-bedroom home | $97 | $239 |
* Based on domestic trucked liquid waste discharge fee of $58/m3, effective March 1, 2025
Reason for fee increase
In 2024 and in previous years, Metro Vancouver’s trucked liquid waste fees have not been able to fully recover all costs associated with treating the wastewater than has been brought to its facilities by private haulers. The 2025 increases for trucked liquid waste fees will improve cost recovery and help ensure that all residents are paying their fair share of wastewater treatment costs.