Liquid Waste Collection Scheme Ends
Last reviewed: 04/03/24
General Meeting Wed 6th March 2024
Sunshine Coast Regional Council organised pump out service ended on the 9th July 2023. MADCA VIce President, Peter Gamgee will present a paper which has been developed to explore options to reduce the pump out costs for those properties destined to always require pump out services. Reducing pump out also reduces the adverse environmental footprint associated with trucking waste off the range.
Background
Historically, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has coordinated a liquid waste holding tank collection service on behalf of the community. Following a review in 2022, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council decided that as of 9th July 2023, it would no longer provide this service to our community. From 9th July 2023, residents will be responsible for their own arrangements. The change in provision is believed to affect around 650 properties.
The MADCA has been advocating for a better deal for our community with the pumping out of liquid waste for more than 10 years.
What you should already have done
The Council brokered services will cease on 9 July 2023 so all impacted residents will need to have a replacement arrangement organised with an approved provider by that date.
Providers:
- Remondis
- B&Y Waste Services
Smaller scale providers
- SAF Septic Cleaning
- Suncoast Liquid Waste Removal
- Suttons Cleaning Services
To transition, you will need to know how often you will need to have your waste pumped out. To do this you will need to know how much waste you generate each period (E.g., week, or month). You will need to monitor the holding tank level and project possible usage carefully. If you look at the receipt given at each pump out, you should be able to determine how much liquid was removed.
Once you select a supplier for future services, you will need to notify Council. Email your notification to wasteadmin@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au . A four-week notice period will apply to service cancellations until June 2023. Make sure you ask for, and receive, acknowledgement from Council.
See the Sunshine Coast Regional Council website for more information:
Alternative Solutions
As an alternative to pump out, some properties may be able to establish on site processing of liquid waste . Information about the procedure for transitioning to alternative on site processing can be found on the SCRC website. It may be complex to install and not all properties will be suitable for an on-site processing system. The first step is to establish if the property is suitable.
Councillor David Law has generously volunteered to act as a conduit between property owners and the relevant Council Departments to provide an initial assessment in the first instance to ascertain the suitability of any particular property to utilise on site processing.
Further information about onsite processing.Why prices are rising
There are several reasons why prices are rising. One factor is increased operational costs, which can include rising fuel prices, higher waste disposal expenses, and wage increases, which impact companies profit margins and sustainability.
Another factor contributing to rising prices is loss of business and reduced take-up. For example, if a significant number of customers, such as 200 out of 650 (around 30%), do not indicate their service provider or discontinue using services, results in a smaller customer base. In such cases, businesses may increase prices to compensate for the reduced volume of sales and maintain profitability. Furthermore, with fewer customers, businesses might experience a decrease in economies of scale, resulting in higher production costs per unit. To offset these increased costs, businesses may opt to raise prices.
What to do to minimise the impact
To minimize the impact of rising there are a few steps you can take. First, it's advisable to shop around and compare prices from different service providers. By researching and obtaining quotes from multiple companies, you can potentially find more competitive rates, ensure you are getting the best value for your money, and get the best fit service for your needs.
Additionally, minimizing the amount of liquid waste you send to your holding tank can help reduce costs. Adopting water-saving practices, such as:
- Install water saving devices
- Take showers instead of baths
- Wash only full loads of clothes
- Scrape all dishes to removes fats and grease before washing
- Dishwasher only full loads
- Don’t put solids into the system
- Collect first flow of cold water from the hot tap and use it in the garden or washing machine
- Collect all grey water and use in the garden.
By being mindful of water usage, you can significantly decrease the frequency of pump-outs. By reducing the volume of liquid waste generated, you can prolong the intervals between servicing, potentially lowering the overall expenses associated with septic tank maintenance.
These measures, combining diligent research and water conservation efforts, can help mitigate the impact of rising prices for liquid waste pump-out services from septic tanks.
To minimise the cost of maintaining your septic tank, it’s important to practice preventative maintenance. This includes being mindful of what you flush down your toilet and sinks, avoiding using too much water at once, and being mindful of the types of products you use in your home. By practicing preventative maintenance, you can extend the life of your septic tank, reduce the need for repairs, and ultimately save money in the long run.
Maintaining a septic tank can be costly, but it’s an important investment in the overall health and functioning of your home. Regular inspections, pumping, and repairs are all necessary to keep your septic tank functioning properly. Ground and water seeps are common to holding tanks particularly after wet weather events. Preventing ground water seepage into waste water tanks involves proper maintenance and management of the tanks and surrounding areas. This includes regular inspections, repairs, and cleaning to ensure that the tanks are functioning properly and not leaking.
Potential benefits
One of the potential benefits of Council leaving the arena is that for some, a less regular service might be arranged with a longer period between services. It may also be possible to arrange an ad hoc service at the same rate as a scheduled service, provided the company is notified appropriately in advance.
MADCA has been contacted by one resident to say that after shopping around, the quote they are going with has resulted in a $20 reduction to their quarterly bill (Name and company withheld).
Who to complain to
The rise in prices for the pump-out service from septic tanks can be attributed to several factors, with short-term causes stemming from the "user pays" policy and privatisation implemented by the SCRC. Over the past two decades, subsidies for the service have been gradually removed, leading to a financial burden that the MADCA believes is potentially unsustainable for both consumers and the supplying companies. However, the root cause can be traced back even further, where the development of properties requiring pump-outs was allowed by the then Maroochydore council.
MADCA believes encourages the SCRC to find a cost-effective and durable solution to address the issue. The councils’ efforts in this regard should be visible, comprehensive, and considerate of the community, aiming to provide a solution that is not disruptive but sympathetic to the needs of the residents.
Register your concern with your local councillor and the Council itself. For further information and/or advice regarding Liquid Waste Pump Out please contact Tony Brett the Pump Out sub-committee lead for the MADCA: email: madca.inc@gmail.com.
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