An asbestos disposal business employee has been fined in Western Australia after illegally dumping a load of asbestos on the side of a road.
Rajwinder Singh, employed by Action Asbestos, with another employee, Jack Scofield, was transporting a load of asbestos waste to an authorised facility. The facility turned them away because the material was not appropriately marked or packaged.
The pair then drove some distance away and dumped the load on the side of the road in a cul-de-sac. A local council worker observed the incident and noted the business’ name on the side of the vehicle involved.
Mr Singh appeared in the Rockingham Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to one count of illegal dumping and another of breaching the Environmental Protection Regulations. He was fined $15,800 and required to pay additional costs of almost $500.
His co-accused has pleaded not guilty.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Senior Manager of Waste Operations, Matt Warnock, explained the severity of the crimes.
“Asbestos has the potential to seriously affect people’s health, and this was a blatant act by a professional who knew the rules and regulations,” Mr Warnock said.
“This whole incident could have been avoided if the offender had disposed of the waste in the proper and legal way.”