The NSW Environment Protection Authority has issued cautions to six open-cut coal mines following an investigation into the burial of waste haul truck tyres.
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The investigation was in response to allegations of illegal receipt and burial of waste tyres at one open-cut coal mine in the Namoi region in June 2020.
While the investigation did not find evidence that the tyres were brought onto the mine sites from other areas it did find that mines had buried their tyres without the necessary licence conditions.
"The EPA is ensuring appropriate environmental safeguards are in place before on-site disposal is allowed to continue at mines," EPA Director Regulatory Operations Stephen Budgen said.
"We found instances of tyres being buried without necessary licence conditions at various times between 2014-2020.
"While no environmental harm was found to have occurred, the EPA issued Official Cautions to all six of the open cut coal mines we investigated."
Official cautions are a regulatory tool used to encourage compliance and help improve environmental outcomes.
Mr Budgen said the EPA was also actively engaged with the mining and tyre recycling industries to find long term strategies for the management and safe disposal of waste tyres.
The EPA is in discussion with other relevant agencies to address the capacity of the current recycling industry through initiatives in the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.
The EPA's Compliance Policy can be found here.
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Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
