Controlled Waste Disposals and its Director Scott Charsley have been fined $36,000 for the unlawful transport, storage and emission of hazardous waste.
The conviction follows a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation investigation into a site in Oldbury, where an estimated 800 tonnes of waste was transported and stored.
The investigation found the waste was moved to the site between July and August 2022, with no environmental approvals to transport or store the waste at the property.
Vandalism at the premises led to about 35,000 litres of liquid waste leaking onto the ground.
A notice issued to the company and Mr Charsley to remedy the issue resulted in further charges due to non-compliance with several requirements.
On August 22, the company pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to a waste emissions charge and transporting controlled waste without a licence. Mr Charsley pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with a prevention notice.
Magistrate Brionie Ayling found the serious breach of the company’s responsibilities was foreseeable and preventable.
She noted Mr Charsley, as sole company director, was obliged to act quickly where there was a risk of waste moving into the soil and causing environmental harm. He worked in the business of waste management and transported controlled waste on a road in high volume where there was a risk of waste being spilled and causing harm to the environment.
The company was fined $3,750 for the unlawful transport charge and $11,250 for the waste emissions charge.
Mr Charsley was fined $21,000 for two counts of failing to comply with a prevention notice.
A/Executive Director Approvals Leon Brouwer said community complaints led to the department’s inspectors finding about 200 barrels and 500 intermediate bulk containers.
“Our investigators discovered black oily liquid leaking from several containers onto the bare ground at the site, which was not an authorised liquid waste facility,” he said.
“We thank the local community for their support to uphold Western Australia’s natural environment laws and ensure the polluter pays.”
Report pollution and other environmental incidents on the Environment Watch hotline 1300 784 782 or report online at: environmentwatch.wa.gov.au
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