EPA lays charges over asbestos-tainted mulch in Sydney
The NSW Environment Protection Authority has launched a suite of prosecutions after investigating asbestos-tainted mulch across Sydney.
The investigation, which the EPA said was the largest in its history, was launched after bonded asbestos was discovered in mulch at Rozelle Parklands earlier this year.
Of 300 sites inspected, 79 were identified as having used tainted mulch.
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The NSW EPA has issued charges over asbestos-tainted mulch in Sydney. Nick Moir
All 79 sites have now been cleaned up.
The EPA said it had levelled 102 charges in total as a result of the investigation.
VE Resource Recovery Pty Ltd has been accused of breaching its environment protection licence by failing to carry out resource recovery activities competently.
The company's director Arnold Vitocco has been charged with executive liability in relation to the alleged breach.
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Two entities trading as Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility, namely Freescale Trading Pty Ltd and Runkorp Pty Ltd, have been charged with 50 offences each.
The charges against the Greenlife companies include breaching a resource recover order, re-using asbestos waste, and carrying out activities such as composting, resource recovery, and waste storage, without an EPA-issed licence.
The alleged offences overall relate to 26 sites, including Rozelle Parklands.
The first directions hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025.
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