Learn how to apply for a waste discharge authorization under the Environmental Management Act (EMA).
Each activity listed below has a specific application process to discharge waste.
You may need one or more authorizations depending on the waste activities at your site.
If your activity is not captured below, review the waste and activity list.
Review the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
You need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
Other materials applied to agricultural land may be subject to additional rules, including the Code of Practice for Soil Amendments and the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
Learn more about agricultural environmental management.
Review the Asphalt Plant Regulation to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
For all new plants and notifications for mobile plant relocation:
The Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR) specifies requirements for compost facilities.
For additional information and guidance, refer to the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and Guidelines.
There are 2 authorization processes for compost facilities depending on size and waste stream.
An authorization is required to compost less than 5,000 tonnes dry weight of finished compost per year, processed from any feedstocks listed in the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
At least 90 days before beginning operation:
An authorization is required to compost greater than or equal to 5,000 tonnes dry weight of finished compost per year, processed from any food waste or biosolids, as listed in the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
Complete:
Submit:
Target timeline:
Ministry staff will contact you to arrange a pre-application meeting.
They will provide a draft Information Requirements Table (IRT) for Composting (PDF, 324KB), or Word Template.
Prepare:
You will:
You will receive:
Pre-application meetings will be held within 120 days of your submission of a completed application.
You may be required to complete some or all of the following information as listed in your Application Instruction Document (AID):
Complete:
Reminders for submission:
Submit all forms and plans to: PermitAdministration.VictoriaEPD@gov.bc.ca.
Ministry staff will conduct a technical review of your submission.
You may be contacted to provide additional details or information.
Review the Concrete and Concrete Products Code of Practice to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
You need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
Additional information and guidance:
This application is for registering a hazardous waste site under the Hazardous Waste Regulation (HWR).
Other permission and notification may be required for:
Review the details, guidance and registration for the above activities.
You need to prepare an initial intake application.
Depending on your activity and the types of waste, you may need one or more of the following authorizations.
Review:
Complete:
Submit:
Target timeline:
Read:
Complete:
Submit:
Target timeline:
Ministry staff will contact you to arrange a pre-application meeting.
They will provide a draft Information Requirements Table for HWR Registered Site Applications (PDF, 463KB) or Word Template.
To get ready for the meeting:
At the meeting you can:
Following the meeting, you'll receive:
Target timeline:
You may need to complete some or all of the following guidance documents as listed in your AID:
These are optional Word Templates and must be used with the guidance documents above:
Complete:
Reminders for submission:
Submit all forms and plans to: PermitAdministration.VictoriaEPD@gov.bc.ca.
Land application of Class B compost and biosolids are regulated under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
Complete:
Submit the notification form only to: PermitAdministration.VictoriaEPD@gov.bc.ca
Review the Land-based Finfish Waste Control Regulation to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
You'll need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
Review the Waste Discharge Regulation and Implementation Guide (PDF, 592KB) to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
The Mining Operations Factsheet (PDF, 246KB) provides an overview of the roles each provincial and federal agency play in regulating mining in B.C.
Refer to placer mining information if you are applying for an authorization to placer mine.
Starting May 4, 2026:
Complete initial intake package, including:
Submit:
Ministry staff will contact you to:
Prepare and review:
You'll be able to:
You'll receive:
Pre-application meetings will be held within 120 days of your submission of a completed application.
Your AID will list what plans, documents and reports are needed for your authorization.
Review mining and smelting waste guidance documents for mining applications.
Additional guidance documents for waste discharge applications are listed below:
Complete:
Reminders for submission:
Submit all forms and plans to:
Ministry staff will conduct a technical review of your submission.
You may be contacted to provide additional details or information.
Review the Mushroom Compost Facilities Regulation to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
You'll need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended mushroom compost facilities information.
Review the Petroleum Storage and Distribution Facilities Storm Water Regulation to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
You'll need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended fuel tank information.
Review the Municipal Wastewater Regulation to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
Complete all forms below for the initial intake package:
Choose the form(s) for your type of discharge.
Download and complete:
Submit:
Ministry staff will provide a file tracking number and arrange a pre-application meeting.
To get ready for the meeting, prepare:
Ministry staff will:
Following your pre-application meeting, you'll know which of the following will be required to complete your application:
Reminders for submission:
Submit:
Review the Code of Practice for the Slaughter and Poultry Processing Industries to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
Notification of Land Application Form (PDF, 471KB) is required if land applying composted slaughter or poultry processing wastes.
You'll need the following to complete the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended slaughter and poultry processing requirements.
The Code of Practice for Soil Amendments regulates the storage of amendment materials and land application criteria.
If applying more than 5 m3 of soil amendments per year, a land application plan must be prepared and signed by a Qualified Professional, and in accordance with the Land Application Guidelines (PDF, 8MB).
Parcels of land that share borders only need one application.
Separate applications are needed for parcels of land that do not share borders.
You'll need the following to fill out the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended Land Application Guidelines (PDF, 8MB).
A person that operates or plans to operate a vehicle dismantling operation must have:
You'll need the following to fill out the online application:
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended vehicle recycling sector resources.
Review the Code of Practice for Industrial Non Hazardous Waste Landfills Incidental to the Wood Processing Industry to familiarize yourself with the necessary requirements to discharge.
You'll need the following to fill out the online application:
For a large landfill facility, as defined in the Code, you must also submit the following reports prepared by a Qualified Professional:
Ensure your Qualified Professional has filled out the Declaration of Competency (PDF, 183KB) and Conflict of Interest (PDF, 229KB) forms.
Assistance with the electronic application form is available at:
For further inquiries, review this extended Wood Waste Landfills Guideline (PDF, 462KB).
Depending on your activity and the types of waste you plan to release, you may need one or more of the following authorizations.
All businesses, governments, and property owners must follow the EMA and Waste Discharge Regulation when discharging waste to air.
Complete all forms below for the initial intake package:
Submit:
Ministry staff will provide a file tracking number and arrange a pre-application meeting.
To get ready for the meeting, prepare:
Ministry staff will:
Your AID will list what plans, documents, and reports are needed for your authorization.
You may need one or more of the following guidance documents as listed in your AID to complete your final application package:
Reminders for submission:
Submit:
All businesses, governments, and property owners must follow the EMA and Waste Discharge Regulation when discharging effluent.
Complete these forms:
Submit:
Ministry staff will contact you to arrange a pre-application meeting.
To get ready for the meeting, prepare:
Ministry staff will:
Your AID will list what plans, documents, and reports are needed for your authorization.
You may need one or more of the following guidance documents as listed in your AID to complete your final application package:
Reminders for submission:
Submit:
All businesses, governments, and property owners must follow the EMA and Waste Discharge Regulation when discharging waste.
Complete all forms below for the initial intake package:
Submit:
Ministry staff will provide a file tracking number and arrange a pre-application meeting.
To get ready for the meeting, prepare:
Ministry staff will:
Your AID will list what plans, documents, and reports are needed for your authorization.
You may need one or more of the following guidance documents as listed in your AID to complete your final application package:
Reminders for submission:
Submit: