A large waste management company has closed its Horsley Park Waste Management Facility in NSW and will be required to pay more than half a million dollars as part of a voluntary, legally binding agreement. The NSW Environment Protection Authority launched action after they discovered fragments of asbestos in fill at the site, including in the landfill, on roads and in stockpiled soil.
The fragments resulted from the use of non-compliant material, including asbestos-containing materials, as cover at the site between 2017 and 2021.
The NSW Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Steve Beaman, explained that the actions of the company were unacceptable.
“We expect better quality control from waste operators. There is no excuse for putting their workers and those who regularly attend this landfill in harm’s way by not ensuring the cover material they use was safe,” Mr Beaman said.
Subsequent to an investigation into the matter, the EPA accepted an enforceable undertaking with the company, which has agreed to pay $590,000. $70,000 of that figure will go towards compliance training for staff, while the remaining amount will fund environmental projects managed by Western Sydney Parklands Trust, in addition to paying EPA costs.
Mr Beaman explained that this agreement meant the EPA can receive regular updates as to the clean-up process.
“The role of the EPA has always been to get the best outcome for the community and environment,” Mr Beaman said.
“By coming to this agreement … the company’s personnel will be better trained – so this doesn’t happen again.
“A dangerous situation will be made safe and we will have a substantial investment in the environment of Western Sydney Parklands.”