Rutherford waste oil company Truegain was ordered to place advertisements in newspapers detailing how it had failed to store liquid waste in a competent manner.
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The company was also ordered yesterday to pay a penalty of $22,500 and to pay the legal costs of the Environment Protection Authority.
Truegain had admitted the liquid waste from its Rutherford plant had entered an adjacent stormwater canal and creek.
In line with the company’s usual approach to inquiries about findings in the Land and Environment Court, nobody from the company was available to comment yesterday.
“But to be named and shamed publicly and to have to advertise the court’s findings in the media must be the ultimate humiliation that any company could face,” Rutherford resident Ramona Cocco said.
Ms Cocco was a member of the former Rutherford Air Quality Liaison Committee that was formed to deal with odours in the area.
The EPA is still investigating several instances of air pollution by local companies.
“As one of the residents in Rutherford who has been working with the EPA, I am pleased to find that finally there is some transparency for the public as to who committed this offence of liquid waste in the creek,” Ms Cocco said.
“Our environment must be protected – we don’t get a second chance.
“I hope that Truegain will come on board now and work with the EPA so there will be a positive outcome for everybody.”
In its forced advertisement in the Mercury yesterday, Truegain outlined the findings of the Land and Environment Court that it had breached the conditions of its licence.
“No actual harm was caused by the commission of the offence,” the Truegain advertisement said.
“However, likely environmental harm was occasioned when the liquid waste from Truegain’s plant at Rutherford entered an adjacent stormwater canal and local creek.”
