Environment Protection Authority v Mortdale Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 106

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Mortdale Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 106 Hearing dates: 25 February 2019 Date of orders: 29 July 2019 Decision date: 29 July 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: See Orders in paragraph [159] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: sentencing – breach of condition of Environmental Protection Licence – waste recycling facility – waste in excess of prescribed limit received and processed at facility - plea of guilty– sentencing considerations- low to medium objective seriousness - offence committed negligently – no actual environmental harm –– no prior convictions – assistance to authorities – contrition and remorse – order to pay Prosecutor's costs - order to pay penalty amount to the Environmental Trust – publication orders made. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Environmental Trust Act 1998 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014 Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council (2006) 148 LGERA 278; [2006] NSWLEC 289 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Limited [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Djura [2012] NSWLEC 122 Environment Protection Authority v Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Incitec Limited (2003) 131 LGERA 176; [2003] NSWLEC 381 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 114 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Signium Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 126 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 72 Environment Protection Authority v Wyanga Holdings Limited; Environmental Protection Authority v Cauchi [2015] NSWLEC 78 EPA v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Chief Environmental Regulator of the Environment Protection Authority v The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2017] NSWLEC 132 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2009) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti (1982) 2 NSWLR 104 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Charbon Coal Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 106 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v SingTel Optus [2019] NSWLEC 44 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1998) 164 CLR 465 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Mortdale Recycling Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Ella, solicitor (Prosecutor) Mr M Hall SC and Ms L Nurpuri, barrister (Defendant)