Ipswich operator fined

Issued: 18 Sep 2020

The Department of Environment and Science has welcomed a $300,000 fine to a recycling company in the Ipswich Magistrates Court today.

This is one of the highest penalties for a waste-related offence in Queensland’s history and sends a strong signal to anyone who is thinking about illegal waste activities or avoiding waste levy.

Bio-Recycle Australia Pty Ltd was fined after it pleaded guilty to receiving and disposing of more waste than it was licensed to across a three year period.

The Ipswich based company holds an Environmental Authority (EA) for its construction and demolition landfill in Swanbank.

The EA is for waste disposal of more than 100,000 tonnes but less than 200,000 tonnes per year.

Bio-Recycle exceeded that allowable threshold, unlawfully disposing of a total of 326,137.23 tonnes of waste over their limit for the combined total of two EA periods:2017/2018 and 2018/2019.

A conviction was recorded and the company was also ordered to pay $2,500 in legal costs and nearly $2,000 in investigation costs.

It is important that all operators who carry out environmentally relevant activities meet their environmental obligations, including that they hold the appropriate approvals and comply with the legislation.

The court outcome demonstrates that the environmental regulator will take strong action when enforcing Queensland’s environmental laws.

Queensland has some of the highest environmental standards anywhere and Bio-Recycle, like other companies, has an obligation to comply with the law.