The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Cleanaway Operations $15,000 for alleged waste offences at their Glendenning premises in western Sydney.
During an EPA inspection in October 2020, EPA officers found instances of alleged poor environmental management, including the incorrect storage of dangerous chemicals and flammable liquids being directly exposed to sunlight.
EPA Director Regulatory Operations Jacinta Hanemann said the rules and regulations around how facilities manage these dangerous materials were designed to reduce risks.
"Incompatible chemicals being stored together must be avoided at all times to prevent fire and other environmental hazards," Ms Hanneman said.
"The EPA expects all operators to comply with the requirements of their licence to ensure the health and safety of the community, the environment and company employees,"
The EPA has fined the company for not carrying out waste processing in a competent manner.
Cleanaway took immediate actions to address waste storage issues including separating incompatible waste chemicals, reducing the quantity of waste at the premises, moving stockpiles of flammable liquids to inside a warehouse, and updating waste sorting and packing procedures.
The EPA has also placed a Pollution Reduction Program on the facility's licence to improve environmental controls and measures at the premises.
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.
