The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined QSSR Pty Ltd, trading as Shoalhaven Recycling, $30,000 after the valve on a tank was left open and an unknown amount of polluted water flowed into nearby Mulgen Creek near Bomaderry in September 2025.
The tank holds stormwater runoff from the main yard area at the site, which should be collected for either disposal or re-use onsite.
NSW EPA Executive Director Operations, Steve Beaman, said EPA sampling showed the tank water was contaminated with a range of pollutants including metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, organics and suspended solids.
“The pollutants from that tank have the potential to harm aquatic life and affect the health of local waterways, including the nearby Shoalhaven River, so it is completely unacceptable that Shoalhaven Recycling did not take the most basic and reasonable steps to manage the tank and its contaminated stormwater,” Mr Beaman said.
“Poor site management and insufficient monitoring led to a preventable discharge that was only stopped when EPA officers noticed liquid flowing into the creek during an inspection and notified the operator, who closed the valve.”
“The EPA, and the community, expects that all licensees will take their environmental responsibilities seriously and ensure proper processes are in place to stop pollution incidents like this from happening.
“Where a licensee doesn’t take responsibility, we will respond and take appropriate regulatory action.”
The EPA is also requiring Shoalhaven Recycling to significantly upgrade its stormwater management system.
Contact details:
EPA MEDIA | ANDY THOMAS | 0418 974 383
24-hour Media Line (02) 9995 6415 [email protected]
