The EPA has fined NSW waste management company, Cleanaway Daniels, over its handling of clinical waste from medical facilities and quarantine waste from cruise ships.
The EPA attended a site in Unanderra in May after an incident at the site, during which a small fire was reported in a waste skip bin.
During the subsequent inspection, officers from the EPA identified a number of issues at the site, including a number of instances of poor environmental management, including “air emissions control equipment not being operational, issues with incident management documentation, unsafe storage of lithium-ion batteries and excessive storage of liquid waste.”
The company received a fine of $15,000 for failing to maintain the waste processing equipment in a proper and efficient condition, in addition to a further $15,000 fine for failing to carry out waste processing in a competent manner.
Cleanaway Daniels was also issued with an official caution for storing more than the permitted levels of liquid waste at the site, and EPA officers added a new license condition upon the company, aimed at improving their overall environmental performance.
EPA Director Regulatory Operations Metropolitan South Giselle Howard explained that there had been seven recorded odour complaints recorded against the premises in the 12 months to July 2019.
“Cleanaway Daniels is required to operate within the requirements of their Environment Protection Licence to protect the community and environment, to the fullest extent with this important waste disposal.
“The community can be assured that the EPA will take action to protect the environment and the community when breaches of operating conditions occur,” Ms Howard said.