Serial asbestos dumper jailed in NSW

A serial Sydney waste dumper has been sent to jail and ordered by a court to take out newspaper and magazine ads to publicise his punishment.

Dib Hanna was sentenced in the NSW Land and Environment Court on Thursday to at least two years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges of illegally transporting and dumping waste - including asbestos - in 2015 and 2016.

Justice Brian Preston also ordered Hanna to remove the illegally dumped waste within 90 days, pay the Environment Protection Agency's legal costs, and publish advertisements about his crimes to deter other would-be offenders.

He is the first person to be jailed as a "repeat waste offender" under tough anti-dumping legislation introduced by the NSW government in 2014.

Hanna had advertised free clean top soil, clay, crushed bitumen, shale and the use of an excavation machine to various Sydney residents via a letterbox drop.

Several people responded and made arrangements to have the material delivered to properties in East Kurrajong, Llandilo, and Wallacia.

But it was discovered the material also contained pipe, rubble, terracotta, plastic, ash, wood, fibre cement sheeting and asbestos.

In total, Hanna instructed the dumping of 461 tonnes of waste, including asbestos, at the residential properties, the court heard.

Justice Preston found each residential property was degraded by the dumping and exposed residents to harms to their health.

Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the penalty was "appropriate", adding that Hanna took advantage of innocent people for financial benefit.

"The sentencing of convicted repeat waste transporter Dib Hanna sends a strong message that illegal dumping of waste will not be tolerated," she said.

He will be eligible for parole in July 2020.