The environmental offenders being named and shamed by the government

A dodgy pest control operator who allegedly caused “permanent damage” to a house in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and the owner of a massive stockpile of 28,000 tyres which sparked serious safety concerns are the first two business owners to be added to a new environmental name-and-shame register.

The Minns government promised to establish the register after the discovery of asbestos at the Rozelle Parklands in Sydney’s inner west in January. The state’s Environment Protection Authority subsequently found asbestos in mulch at dozens of sites across Sydney including schools and parks.

The discovery of asbestos at Rozelle Parklands prompted the Minns government to set up the name-and-shame register.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

The newly launched register includes a warning from the EPA for the public to avoid Sams Maintenance and Pest Control and its director, Narbjeet Singh, alleging that the company performed unlicensed pesticide work that has caused “significant permanent damage” to a home in the eastern suburbs.

The Queensland-based company is a parent to a string of other companies with names including Bob’s Bees, Pest Control Sydney and MAX Pest Control Sydney. Those companies have been the subject of hundreds of complaints online, including what the EPA alleges is “fraudulent behaviour” and “intimidation” towards its customers.

The EPA said contractors linked to the company provided quotes over the phone before requesting a significantly higher fee in person. It said some customers reported “intimidation by the contractors who refuse to leave until payment is made, as well as incomplete or ineffective services and significant property damage”.

Singh did not respond to a request for comment.

“We make no apology for naming and shaming environmental offenders”: Environment Minister Penny Sharpe.Credit: Kate Geraghty

The second name added to the register is Mark Fair, the director of Carbon MF, who was fined $582,375 by the Land and Environment Court last year after failing to comply with a clean-up notice to remove 28,000 tyres stockpiled near Albury airport.

After the verdict an EPA executive director Jason Gordon said the risk of a fire could have led to “a serious incident with toxic smoke potentially impacting nearby residents and impeding air traffic”. The EPA recommends “significant caution” before dealing with Fair.

Carbon MF has since gone into liquidation, but the EPA said it had added Fair to the register due to allegations he is “still engaging in activities of environmental concern” which may be in breach of environment law. It said it believed Fair was “operating, or communicating” with consumers and businesses under various names including Carbon Lock and Tyre Tart.

The Herald was unable to contact Fair, however he previously told the Border Mail he was “a victim of the EPA”.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said there was “a clear need for bad business practices to be called out”.

“We make no apology for naming and shaming environmental offenders who put our health and our environment at risk,” she said.

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