A PERTHVILLE resident’s decision to dump waste containing asbestos by the side of the road at Gormans Hill instead of paying $35 to take it to the tip has cost him $7500 following prosecution by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
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The illegal dumping at a roadside reserve near the Bathurst Water Filtration Plant was captured on a closed circuit television camera installed by Bathurst Regional Council.
EPA acting regional director south and west branch Dr Sandie Jones said illegally dumped waste had the potential to harm the environmental harm and presented a hazard to the public.
“This is particularly of concern when asbestos is involved,” Dr Jones said.
“The cost of disposing of this waste legally at Bathurst landfill would likely have been around $35, much less than the fine issued to this individual.
“In the age of surveillance cameras, dashboard cameras and cameras on mobile phones, the chances of a witness observing waste dumpers are ever increasing.”
Bathurst Regional Council paid more than $4000 for a licensed asbestos contractor to clear the site and to have the site remediated.
“There are significant costs borne by the community in the clean-up of waste dumping and council will be seeking to recover the costs of cleaning up this waste from those responsible for the dumping,” mayor Graeme Hanger said.
“I would like to thank the EPA for their assistance and I encourage members of the community to report illegal dumping when it occurs.”
Illegal dumping can be reported to the EPA on 131 555 or Bathurst Regional Council on 6333 6511. Witnesses should provide details of the location, description of the waste and the date and time the waste was seen.
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.
For more information about the EPA’s regulatory tools, see the EPA Compliance Policy at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/legislation/prosguid.htm.
