A Central Coast business that stored asbestos waste unlawfully has been fined by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
EPA officers carrying out a routine inspection of EBH Environmental Services Pty Ltd’s site in Berkeley Vale in October of 2020 noticed a number of bags marked with asbestos warnings atop other waste.
The subsequent investigation found that there were more than 15 tonnes of waste at the site, which should not have been held there.
EPA Director Regulatory Operations Adam Gilligan said that “one of the bags had split and unwrapped fibrous sheet material could be seen inside.”
“The EBH, Berkeley Vale site, is not permitted to receive or store asbestos waste. A special licence is required if a waste facility wants to manage asbestos waste, and all these facilities must adhere to strict rules and conditions to ensure the health and safety of the community and the environment.
“Asbestos material can be a serious health risk – especially if asbestos fibres are airborne and you inhale them.”
It was also found that asbestos-containing waste was stored at a nearby property before moving to the primary site.
“The EPA considers this to be a serious incident. The EPA expects all waste, and especially asbestos waste, to be stored and disposed of lawfully to ensure that we are keeping our community and the environment safe.”
The business was fined $15,000 and has been cautioned for breaching its environment protection license. It is the third time the company has been fined by the EPA since 2017.