Behind the Scenes of Sewage Collection with CSG

10 March 2025 by CSG

Over a million properties across rural areas of the UK have off mains drainage systems. This means that they have a drainage system that does not connect to the main public sewage system.

These properties rely on private sewage systems: cesspits, septic tanks, or sewage treatment plants. These systems require emptying and maintenance by specialist companies like CSG. Under a duty of care householders then take on these responsibilities and costs instead of paying a wastewater charge to their local water company.

In this blog, we will be showing you what happens to your sewage waste once a CSG tanker comes to collect it.

The collection process

The Environment Agency says you should empty your sewage tank at least once a year. Every system is different, British Water recommends you determine emptying frequency on demand, but also follow the manufacturer’s instructions as a general guide.

At CSG, our driver-operators undergo extensive training. This training equips them to handle all aspects of sewage waste collection. From understanding the unique requirements of various sewage systems to following strict safety protocols, their expertise ensures that every job is carried out efficiently and responsibly.

When your sewage system needs emptying, you can count on our friendly drivers. They will handle the job carefully – making sure they leave your property the same way they found it.

We pride ourselves on our local approach. Our transport staff and drivers based at our regional depots possess an in-depth knowledge of the areas in which we operate. They also dedicate themselves to providing you with a high-quality service.

Want to know more about what happens when a CSG driver/operator comes to collect your waste? Take a look at our newest YouTube video below!

What happens once CSG collects my waste?

Waste from your sewage system is taken to a licensed wastewater treatment facility. Your local wastewater utility company will usually be responsible for operating this facility. Waste from mains-drainage properties will also processed be there.

Sewage treatment facilities treat, sanitise, and recycle the contents of all off mains systems back into agriculture.

The process helps to return the essential nutrients we consume in our food back to soil, supporting plant growth and nutrition as well as reducing any sewage pollution. Artificial fertilisers made in factories cannot truly replace these nutrients and biomass, which are essential for plant growth.

Wastewater utility companies also use the waste to produce gas for generating electricity. This process is known as anaerobic digestion. 

Clean water from the wastewater treatment process is recycled back into the environment.

Some sewage system owners in locations like Cornwall have said that a utilities company’s ban on waste contractors using its recovery facilities during adverse weather left their tanks ‘full to the brim.’

To help secure a local outlet for off mains system disposal, CSG has recently invested in a £1.2 million sewage treatment plant in Botley. CSG’s flagship recycling centre will only accept waste from off mains sewage systems. This will help to buffer wastewater capacity in the region, reducing the amount of waste at utility companies’ treatment plants and serving up to 8,000 off-mains households every year.

How can I help?

Because all household activities connect to nature, remember that your waste does not vanish into a black hole. This is why here at CSG we want to create better circularity from the sewage that ends up in our recycling facilities.

As a septic tank owner, you can help us by thinking about your product choices and chemical footprint. This will help to reduce the environmental burden on your community’s waterways, and local agricultural soils. Ways that you can do this include:

• Not flushing wipes. Don’t use them at all or put them in your general waste!
• Not flushing or pouring harsh chemicals and keeping DIY products out of your system.
• Don’t put Fats, Oils or Grease (FOG) down your drain. These can clog both your system and your pipes!
• Making nature friendly cleaning product choices and using these products in moderation.

• Avoid buying non-stick. Stick to scrubbable pots and pans.
• Using natural cloths for cleaning and consider washing clothes less often to reduce microplastic pollution.
• Keeping all plastics, like sanitary items out of your system, they degrade and contaminate.
• Not flushing medicines away, these cause havoc in aquatic ecosystems.
• Trying to keep to the three p’s, that’s just paper, pee and poo.

CSG are available to support you and your sewage system. Through advice and proactive measures to installations, maintenance and sewage collections.

CSG are a trusted company with 90 years of experience. We are also members of British Water and have trained accredited British Water engineers ready to tackle any sewage related issues you encounter. Call us on 0800 011 6600 or make an online enquiry here to learn more today!