The NSW Environment Protection Authority has fined Benedict Recycling Pty Ltd for $15,000 allegedly accepting more waste at their Mayfield West facility than permitted under their Environment Protection Licence.
EPA Director Regional Waste Compliance Cate Woods said the fine was issued after records from the company indicated they accepted more than 40,000 tonnes of waste over the limit permitted by their licence.
"At the time of the alleged breach, Benedict Recycling could lawfully accept up to 90,000 tonnes of waste per annum. During the period between May 2017 and May 2018 they received more than 130,000 tonnes," Ms Woods said.
At the time of the alleged offence, Benedict Recycling had commenced work to increase the amount of waste received at the premises from 90,000 tonnes per annum to 315,000 tonnes per annum. However, conditions requiring environmental controls to be put in place before accepting more waste had not been complied with.
"Benedict Recycling was aware they were required under their development consent required them to undertake works and develop management plans to control surface water discharges before increasing the amount of waste accepted. Those works were not completed but the expansion went ahead regardless." Ms Woods said.
Since the alleged exceedance, the remaining works have been completed.
Penalty notices are one of several tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance including formal warnings, official cautions, licence conditions, notices and directions and prosecutions.
