Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Limited [2019] NSWLEC 193

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Limited [2019] NSWLEC 193 Hearing dates: 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 June; 2, 3, 4 and 5 July;8 August 2019 Date of orders: 13 December 2019 Decision date: 13 December 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Moore J Decision: See orders at [185] Catchwords: SENTENCE - environmental offence - breach of condition of Environment Protection Licence - Defendant operated a waste facility at a significantly greater annual volume than permitted - plea of guilty - Prosecutor asserts factors of aggravation - causing of substantial environmental harm not established - offence committed for financial gain conceded by Defendant - causing harm to human health not established - traffic impacts of truck-queuing and any consequences of trucks being untarped prior to entry to the site not demonstrated to constitute a factor of aggravation - offending conduct assessed as being at the top of the low range for such conduct - full 25% discount for guilty plea appropriate - penalty to be paid to the Environmental Trust - publication order required - appropriate penalty after discount for guilty plea is $90,000 - Defendant to pay Prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed (but subject to opportunity to parties to seek some alternative costs order) Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257E, 257G Environmental Trust Act 1998 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 64,121,124, 126-7, 142A, 241, 249, 250 Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010 Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2009, cl 109 Cases Cited: Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd (2013) 199 LGERA 236; [2013] NSWLEC 185 Environment Protection Authority v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd; Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 82 Environment Protection Authority v Custom Chemicals Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 146 Environment Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 91 Environment Protection Authority v Mortdale Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 106 Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Wyanga Holdings Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Cauchi [2015] NSWLEC 78 Liversidge v Anderson [1941] UKHL 1; [1942] AC 206 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Thompson; R v Houlton 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Energy Limited; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Upstream Infrastructure investments Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 2 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Minto Recycling Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P English, barrister (Prosecutor) Mr P Larkin SC/Ms S Ross, barrister (Defendant)