Cobra Waste, A Western Sydney waste company has been ordered to pay nearly $300,000 after being found guilty of 18 waste offences related to dodging mandatory weighbridge requirements, following a prosecution by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
Major Penalty for Systematic Violations
The Cobra Group Pty Ltd, which operates a resource recovery facility in St Marys, was fined $258,400 in Parramatta Local Court and must also pay an additional $30,000 towards the EPA's legal costs. The company was prosecuted for failing to record vehicles in its weighbridge software system and providing false and misleading information about waste quantities in its monthly reports to the EPA
Covert Investigation Reveals Extensive Non-Compliance
In June 2023, EPA investigators used covert security cameras to capture more than 100 truck movements in and out of the facility over a week-long period. Many of these vehicles were carrying waste, yet none of the trips were recorded in the weighbridge system, nor were the waste quantities reported to the EPA as required.
Weighbridges are large-scale vehicle weighing devices essential for accurately recording waste movements and ensuring compliance with NSW's waste levy framework.
Environmental Protection at Stake
NSW EPA Executive Director Regulatory Practice & Services, Steve Beaman, emphasised the critical importance of accurate weighbridge records for maintaining the integrity of the waste levy system.
"Failing to record that data and therefore providing misleading information to the EPA can put the environment at risk and result in waste levy avoidance," - Mr Beaman
"If we don't have accurate and transparent records, a facility could be understating their waste levy liability and operating beyond its limits. This also increases the chance that appropriate environmental controls aren't in place for the volume of waste being handled, which creates a pollution risk," he added.
Industry-Wide Warning
The prosecution serves as a stark reminder to the waste industry about the consequences of non-compliance. Mr Beaman noted that maintaining the integrity of the waste levy framework is essential for ensuring a level playing field and keeping the waste industry both sustainable and environmentally safe.
Under NSW's Waste Levy Framework, scheduled waste facilities must record the quantity of waste received and transported at their facility and report these quantities to the EPA each month. This regulatory requirement helps prevent illegal dumping and ensures proper environmental oversight of waste management operations.
The substantial penalty reflects the EPA's commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and protecting NSW communities from the risks associated with improper waste management practices.
