Launceston metal recycling firm Recycal ordered to stop disposing toxic waste residue

Tasmania’s environmental protection watchdog has taken urgent action against a recycling firm to stop it disposing toxic waste that could harm marine environments or human health. Latest >

Recycal Pty Ltd's Rocherlea facility. Picture: Facebook

Tasmania’s environmental protection watchdog has taken urgent legal action against a metal recycling firm in Launceston – to stop it dumping toxic waste residue that could pose a risk to the marine environment or human health.

Earlier this month, a temporary order was made prohibiting Recycal from dumping waste “shredder floc” anywhere other than the Copping Refuse Disposal Site, which was described as the only suitable disposal site for the material in Tasmania.

Recycal was also ordered to remove 17 piles of shredder floc it was found to have disposed of at Glebe Farm, and take it to the Copping site instead.

It’s the latest in a series of incidents and legal cases for Recycal, which has also been at loggerheads with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) over the removal of contaminated water from its Rocherlea site, a problem that endured after a catastrophic February 2022 blaze.

Now, the tribunal has also agreed to a request from the EPA to expedite a hearing date for a permanent order – noting the situation warranted “a hearing at the earliest opportunity”.

A fire at Crooked Billet Drive, Bridgewater February 6, 2023. Photo: Jase Evans

In his decision, tribunal deputy president Richard Grueber said the EPA made a series of investigations earlier this year, finding the shredder floc at Glebe Farm was controlled waste that included compounds that were toxic or had the potential to harm marine estuarine or freshwater quality.

The EPA told the tribunal the material could be transported by rainfall into alluvial soil, or become airborne and pose health risks.

The authority also estimated the cost of removing the floc waste on Glebe Farm to be in excess of $200,000.

Mr Grueber said he was satisfied the EPA director had established a prima facie face and that the shredder floc may contain cadmium, lead, and PCBs, which are toxic.

He noted that Recycal had been directed to stop removing its floc waste from its Rocherlea site on May 25 this year, but had failed to comply.

A hearing for a permanent order will be held on August 21 and 22.

Last month, Recycal lost a separate battle against the EPA to catch and remove all water run-off from its Rocherlea site, so as not to continue contaminating a neighbouring farm near the Tamar River in the wake of a massive shredder floc fire last year.

That fire sent plumes of smoke across Launceston and caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

Another blaze occurred at Recycal’s Bridgewater operation in February this year.

In December last year, Recycal was fined $85,000 for unsafe workplace practices after a worker fell seven metres and suffered catastrophic injuries.

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Originally published as Launceston metal recycling firm Recycal ordered to stop disposing toxic waste residue