đź’§ How Dumpster Dogs Became a Certified Liquid Waste Hauler in Austin, TX
If you’re starting a portable toilet division or adding liquid waste hauling to your existing waste business, you’ll need to navigate the City of Austin’s Liquid Waste Hauler Program. As Dumpster Dogs and DD Waste Services, we just completed this process—and here’s exactly what you need to know.
đźšš What Is the Liquid Waste Hauler Program?
Austin Water requires permits for any company hauling waste like:
Portable toilet/porta-potty waste
Septic waste
Grease trap waste
Grit trap or oil separator waste
Even if you’re only handling porta-potty waste, you’re still required to go through the full permitting process. This is enforced under Austin City Code Chapters 15-5 and 15-10 to protect public health and wastewater infrastructure.
đź“‹ Our Step-by-Step Process
1. Register with TCEQ
We first had to register with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as a waste transporter. This is a prerequisite—Austin won’t even review your city application without it.
2. Complete the Austin Hauler Application
Next, we filled out the City of Austin Liquid Waste Hauler Application, which asked for:
Our TCEQ registration
Truck info (make, VIN, tank capacity, plate #)
Driver info
Waste types (in our case, portable toilet waste)
Where we plan to dispose (more on that below)
3. Vehicle Insurance
We provided $500,000 combined single-limit liability insurance for each vehicle, which is required by City ordinance. Make sure your insurance is up-to-date and lists each VIN.
4. Submit and Pay
Once our application was ready, we submitted it in person to the Special Services Division (SSD). After approval, we paid:
The annual permit fee
An inspection fee for each vehicle
5. Vehicle Inspections
SSD inspectors came out to review our trucks. Each had to meet standards like:
Sight glass or sight tube on tanks
Secure valves and no leaks
Required markings: company name + permit number clearly displayed
Valid TCEQ & DPS decals
If you’re adding new trucks, they must go through inspection too.
6. Disposal Account Setup
Before we could dump a single gallon, we had to set up a prepaid disposal account. This is how the City tracks and bills for each load you discharge at the dump station.
🧾 Manifests and Compliance
Every single load you haul must be documented with a City-issued manifest or trip ticket. These show:
Generator info (i.e. customer address)
Type and volume of waste
Your company info
Where you dumped it
The City tracks your activity and can issue violations if you skip any paperwork or submit late.
🧑‍🔧 Where to Dump Porta Potty Waste in Austin
You can only dispose of waste at designated facilities. For porta-potty liquid, that means the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant:
đź“Ť Address: 7113 FM 969, Austin, TX
🕑 Hours: Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–2:30 PM; Sat 7:00 AM–2:45 PM
🧾 Requirements: Prepaid account, manifest form, valid permit
They do not accept grease, grit, oil trap waste, or waste with visible solids or petroleum-based contaminants.
You’ll connect to their discharge port using cam-lock fittings, and City staff may sample your waste at any time.
💡 Tips from Dumpster Dogs’ Experience
Plan for delays. The inspection and paperwork process can take 2–3 weeks or more depending on how fast you move.
Double-check tank sizes. Manifest books require accurate gallon capacity, which must match TCEQ registration.
Stay organized. We use a digital log of drivers, manifests, inspections, and renewals to stay compliant.
Use decals wisely. We invested in magnetic signs and printed decals to stay compliant and clean-looking.
Train drivers on manifest use, dumping rules, and city expectations—they are held accountable during inspections.
đź“Ś Final Checklist for New Haulers
| âś… Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Register with TCEQ | https://www.tceq.texas.gov/ |
| Complete City of Austin application | LWH Permit Application |
| Get insurance docs | Min. $500,000 CSL per truck |
| Submit to SSD | In person at 3907 South Industrial Dr. |
| Pass vehicle inspection | Required annually |
| Open prepaid disposal account | For Walnut Creek facility |
| Use City manifests | Required per load |
| Renew annually | Or when adding trucks/drivers |
🦴 Dumpster Dogs Can Help
If you’re a new hauler or expanding into the porta-potty business, we’re happy to share insights from our setup. We believe in raising the bar for professionalism and compliance in the waste industry—because clean operations mean safer communities.
📧 Reach out to us at rentals@ddwaste.com or follow our journey on Instagram @dumpsterdogswaste
