EPA
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Cleanaway Pty Ltd $15,000 for allegedly storing waste without an environment protection licence.
The waste management company was sorting and storing bottles and cans from the NSW Container Deposit Scheme at a Beresfield site that was not licenced to accept the waste.
The EPA investigations found that Cleanaway received over 15,000 tonnes of waste at the Beresfield site, between 1 November 2018 and 31 October 2019.
In response to action by the EPA in December 2019, Cleanaway stopped receiving waste at the premises and began transporting it to another site at Kooragang Island.
EPA Director Regulatory Operations Metro North Adam Gilligan said it was unacceptable for Cleanaway to put the environment at risk.
“Cleanaway holds over 30 environment protection licences for waste related activities in NSW and should be aware of the process to lawfully process and store waste in NSW.
“Investigations found that waste was being stored without proper controls near a stormwater drain, increasing the risk of pollution and environmental harm.
“The NSW Container Deposit Scheme is designed to remove litter from the environment, and it is important that the environment remains protected throughout the entire process,” Mr Gilligan said.
Penalty notices are one of a number of tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance including formal warnings, official cautions, licence conditions, notices and directions and prosecutions. In this instance the EPA issued a penalty notice. The notice recipient may pay the penalty notice, seek a review, or elect to have the matter determined by a court.
/Public Release.
