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A waste company in Sydney’s west has been fined $280,000 over a foul-smelling landfill that has caused “very real psychological and physical harm” to residents.
Dial-A-Dump, which was acquired as a subsidiary of Bingo Industries in 2019, was ordered to pay the fine after a court found an offensive odor coming from the company’s Eastern Creek landfill that made residents’ lives nearby was a pittance for a year.
The decision was handed down in the Land and Environment Court on March 20, after the company pleaded guilty to causing or allowing putrid odor from its landfill on Honeycomb Drive in 2021.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it would take the waste facility to court in 2022. after receiving 800 complaints from fed up households in Minchinbury, Mount Druitt, St Clair, Rooty Hill, Doonside and Blacktown.
Dial-A-Dump, which was acquired as a subsidiary of Bingo Industries in 2019, was ordered to pay the fine after a court found an offensive odor coming from the company’s Eastern Creek landfill that made residents’ lives nearby was a pittance for a year.
“The court handed down the sentences after noting that many residents affected by the odor suffered very real psychological and physical harm, as well as considerable damage to their services over several months,” a spokesperson said.
The “rotten egg” stench caused residents to suffer “throat and eye irritation, cough, breathing difficulties, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, stress and anxiety,” the agency reported. Penrith Press reported.
Residents said the constant stench was so strong that it prevented them from inviting friends over for barbecues, hanging their clothes on the clothesline, and made them depressed.
The court heard from locals who gave evidence, including one woman who said the smell forced her to stay home.
At least four other people claimed they “couldn’t sleep” during that time.
Dial-a-Dump is understood to have taken steps to prevent future offensive odors and hired a full-time landfill manager to demonstrate the company’s unlikelihood of repeat offending.
Dial-a-Dump is understood to have taken steps to prevent future offensive odors and hired a full-time landfill manager to demonstrate the company’s unlikelihood of repeat offending.
Blacktown Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said: The community is already fed up with being exposed to air and water pollution.
He also said the well-being of residents is paramount and it is unacceptable for any organization to neglect its responsibilities.
In addition to the fine, Dial-a-Dump was ordered to pay investigative and legal costs, approximately $365,000, and to conduct mailbox mailings to post the conviction and fine on nearly 70 surrounding streets.