Environment

Examples of illegal dumping in Western Sydney.

POLLUTERS WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT Laws tackle target dumping

LANDMARK reforms to better protect the environment, prevent contamination and illegal dumping have passed NSW Parliament.

NSW Environment Minister James Griffi n said the Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, will help stop innocent landowners and the Government footing the bill for illegal dumping and contaminated land.

“When our environmental laws were introduced decades ago, they were used as the benchmark around Australia. Since 2012, they’ve been used to successfully prosecute nearly 680 polluters and make them pay $12M through the courts for their crimes,” Mr Griffi n said.

“Criminal behaviour has evolved since then, which is why we’re strengthening the law so waste criminals can’t exploit and profi t from loopholes.”

In the past three years, these loopholes have seen more than 132,000 tonnes of contaminated waste being illegally dumped in NSW, and innocent landholders or Government being left with substantial clean-up costs. Some updates to the legislation will: • Prevent individuals and related companies benefitting from their crimes by ensuring they can be held to account even if they dissolve companies in an attempt to avoid responsibility. • Ensure compliance history is considered when deciding to issue or amend an environment protection licence. • Ensure action can be taken against the owners of vehicles involved in illegal waste dumping. Previously, the law only applied to the driver of the vehicle • Ensure contaminated property continues to be properly managed or cleaned up when land is sold, or if operations have finished. This means it won’t be left to government or innocent landholders to manage. • Add new and increased maximum penalties, to further deter criminal behaviour. • Increase protections for officers investigating environmental offences so they can do their jobs safely.

Drone footage of stockpiled waste and waste tyres.

Removing single use plastics

MORE than 40,000 businesses across NSW will be supported to phaseout single-use plastics in line with the NSW Government’s recently announced Plastics Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021.

Environment Minister James Griffi n said the NSW Government is partnering with the National Retail Association (NRA) to co-design and deliver a campaign to help businesses transition away from single-use plastics.

“Almost every piece of plastic ever made is still with us. More than 2.7 billion plastic items end up in NSW waterways each year–wreaking havoc on the environment and endangering wildlife,” Mr Griffi n said.

“To protect our environment we’re getting rid of certain single-use plastics later this year and this campaign will help ensure NSW businesses are ready to go.”

Over the next nine months the NRA will visit more than 650 retail precincts providing factsheets, signage and advice to help businesses transition.

The supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags will cease from 1 June, with the supply of single-use plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, plates and bowls, cotton buds, expanded polystyrene food containers, and products containing plastic microbeads also ending from November 1.

Exemptions will apply to people who rely on certain plastic products for disability or health reasons.

“While we recognise a number of large and small businesses have already phased-out single-use plastics, for many the ban will involve signifi cant change and they’ll need government and community support,” Mr Griffi n said.

“Consumers will also need to be prepared for changes when collecting takeaway or making purchases, particularly when they receive straws, foodware or cutlery.”

Small Business Minister Eleni Petinos said that strong cooperation between government and industry was needed to ensure minimal disruption.

“During the transition phase, the NSW Government will work closely with industry stakeholders to support a smooth changeover," Ms Petinos said. "Small businesses need to know now how they will be impacted so that they can begin planning for alternatives to single-use plastics. Not only will this help smaller retailers comply with the new laws, it will also ensure that their customers are aware of the changes that will be occurring."

CEO of the National Retail Association Dominique Lamb said the program will also focus on supporting distributors, importers, manufacturers and not-for profi t organisations through resources, online sessions and in-person forums.

“We also want to ensure we engage with hard-to-reach communities, especially small businesses, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups and regional areas,” Ms Lamb said.

“Businesses and community organisations need our help to understand and comply with the ban, but also assistance with preparing their customers for the change.”

Minister James Griffin.