Wisconsin Septic Hauling Compliance Guide

Wisconsin's septage hauling program is governed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under NR 113, a regulation that covers both business licensing and vehicle-level compliance. Business licenses follow a biennial renewal cycle tied to June 30 of odd-numbered years, with fees based on the number of vehicles in your fleet.

What distinguishes Wisconsin from many states is the vehicle inspection requirement. Every pump truck must be registered and inspected before it can be used for septage hauling. This is not a one-time check; the per-vehicle registration and inspection program runs alongside the business license. Haulers adding new trucks to their fleet need to factor in the inspection timeline before those vehicles can go into service.

NR 113.11(3) sets out detailed manifest requirements. Each service must be documented with the customer name, service address, volume collected, date of service, and type of system or waste. Daily log book and invoice records form the basis of the compliance paper trail. Records must be retained for five years.

Grease trap waste hauling falls under the same NR 113 license, so no separate grease-specific license is required. Municipal FOG ordinances provide local enforcement under 40 CFR 403. Land application of grease trap waste is not allowed.