EPA Connect newsletter

EPA Connect provides all EPA stakeholders and the general community with easily accessible information about the EPA, its work and latest initiatives. You can provide input or ask questions about the newsletter content by emailing epa.connect@epa.nsw.gov.au.

1. June 2024

   In this edition of EPA Connect, CEO Tony Chappel writes about our new stronger legislative powers and what they mean for us. We also check in with the great work Operations have been doing to help flood-impacted communities in the north. And there's another five inspiring personal stories from staff about the places they love. Read June 2024

2. February 2024

   CEO Tony Chappel writes about what it means to be a steward of the environment. In this edition, you can also read about the places that inspire our passion for sustainability, the EPA's attendance at the Yabun Festival and how one council cut illegal dumping by more than 90%. Read February 2024

3. December 2023

   CEO Tony Chappel encourages everyone to take time over the summer break to enjoy the natural environment that we are working so hard to protect. Also in this edition, we release our 2022-23 Annual Report, the NSW Plastics- Next Steps survey is out for consultation until early February, the Cadia water tank test results are in, we pass the 10 billion milestone for Return and Earn container deposits, we report on our role at the Koori Knockout, give vital asbestos safety tips and advise the new laws for radiation safety. Read December 2023

4. September 2023

   CEO Tony Chappel reflects on his first 12 months in the job highlighting some significant milestones including the sustained efforts being taken towards enabling a circular, low carbon economy to safeguard our natural environment. In this edition you can also read about the work being done with industry and the community around the impacts of dust from mining operations, steps we are taking to better understand what support is needed to increase resilience to climate change and what we can all do to dispose of batteries safely. Read September 2023

5. May 2023

   CEO Tony Chappel presents the highlights of the EPA’s work over the past months including our Climate Change Action Plan released earlier this year, the ongoing plan to reduce plastics waste and the response to the recent fish deaths at Menindee. In this edition we hear more from the Youth Advisory Council and our campaign for safe use of pesticides in farming. You can also read about some of the latest regulatory action and waste watch initiatives including keeping food and organic waste out of landfill and a new community recycling centre. Read May 2023

6. December 2022

   CEO Tony Chappel presents the highlights of the EPA’s work over the past months and encourages everyone to embrace a circular economy. In this edition we report from the Youth Advisory Council meeting at Parliament House, provide the just-published Youth Engagement Strategy and 2021-22 Annual Report, and mark Return and Earn’s 5th birthday. You can also read about the ongoing floods recovery, the latest regulatory action including pollution orders and more great waste watch initiatives including the single use plastics bans and some great tips for saving waste over the festive season and summer. Read December 2022

7. September 2022

   Our new CEO Tony Chappel introduces this edition via his special video message and highlights of the EPA’s recent challenges and achievements including incident response and recovery, the next phase of single-use plastics bans and our draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan. You can also read about the latest regulatory action, a new dangerous goods manual to prevent truck fires, and some more great waste watch initiatives including Cool Compost, Take 3 for the Sea’s CEO Clean-up Day and the Recycle Smart App. Read September 2022

8. July 2022

   In this edition we highlight the NSW ban on lightweight plastic bags and herald more single-use plastics bans to come. We introduce our new CEO Tony Chappel who starts in August and celebrate our commitment to our First Custodians. We provide tips on safe use of pesticides and managing odours in wet conditions and bring more news on flood clean-up, regulatory action and some more great waste watch initiatives including The Bin Chicken and Plastic-free July. Read July 2022

9. May 2022

   We are drawing on our planning and experience to take a lead role in the March floods clean-up. Other events and incidents such as the Wickham Wool Store fire in Newcastle and discharge from AMPOL at Kurnell have also mobilised our operations staff and challenged the community. This edition also highlights the ban on problem plastics like soft single-use plastic bags and straws from 1 June, the formation of a new environment youth advisory council and the latest on regulatory actions, waste watch and other activities from around the state. Read May 2022

10. March 2022

    As this newsletter goes out, we are responding to the impacts of floods on our communities and have waste management plans underway. In this edition we also introduce the EPA’s new Aboriginal Visual Identity, the latest State of the Environment Report in its new digital format and stories on successful litter reduction actions, food waste recycling, regulatory actions, school learning resources with Return and Earn and news and events from around the regions. Read March 2022

11. December 2021

    This special end-of-year edition introduces two major and long-awaited pieces of legislation for the EPA in the plastics management and land protection spaces. We also celebrate Return and Earn’s 4th birthday and 6.5 billion milestone, bring you highlights over the past year and offer some great tips for a sustainable festive season. Read December 2021

12. November 2021

    The EPA is building environmental resilience by planning for and preventing events and incidents where we can, as well as responding and recovering. We are meeting the challenges of a Covid-restricted world through virtual compliance checks and we are increasingly using drone imagery, data analytics and intelligence to carry out our work. Also in this edition we bring tips on preparing for a safe summer and news from around the regions. Read November 2021

13. August 2021

    The EPA is looking firmly to the future and in this edition we feature our new three-year Strategic Plan, a new regulatory approach and strategy, and our key role in delivering the new waste strategy and plastics plan. We also bring tips on noise pollution, safety around asbestos and lead and the latest news from the regions. Read August 2021

14. June 2021

    The EPA engaged with 500 council staff and licensees in our Roadshow forums, listening and responding as we move closer to becoming a world class regulator. In this edition we flag the NSW Government’s visionary waste strategy and our imminent new Regulatory Strategy – as well as news of environmental action across the state. Read June 2021

15. October-November 2020

    The EPA is taking new directions including a commitment to become carbon neutral. Meet our new Chair and the busy Environment Line team and read the latest action on environment crime, alert for business to get ready for summer, news from the regions and a timely anti kerbside dumping campaign. Read October-November 2020

16. August - September 2020

    The EPA is on its way to becoming a world class regulator through robust regulatory action and stronger relationships with stakeholders. Read about rail licensing, forestry regulation, food saving during Covid-19, recycling successes and watch videos on our forensics lab and Plastic-free tips in this edition. Read August - September 2020

17. June-July 2020

    Read how the bushfire clean-up is making headway and Fiona Einfalt, whose family is planning to rebuild on the south coast, tells her story. Also in this edition, from gin to hygiene, see how the EPA is helping keep new production lines for hand sanitisers safe, and find top tips on what to do if you see, hear or smell pollution. Read June-July 2020

18. March 2020

    Welcome to our first edition of EPA Connect for 2020. The past months have been a tremendously challenging time for NSW, as the bushfires had and continue to have a devastating impact on many communities across the state and as we all now face the developing situation presented by COVID-19. Read March 2020

19. Spring: November 2019

    Welcome to the latest edition of EPA Connect news. I am delighted and privileged to have been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in October. Read Spring: November 2019

20. Winter August 2019

    Welcome to the Winter edition of EPA Connect. The EPA, like many NSW Government agencies, has undergone a period of change since our last newsletter as part of the Machinery of Government changes. As such, the EPA remains an independent agency but within the new Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) Cluster. Read Winter August 2019

21. Autumn May 2019

    Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of the EPA Connect newsletter. In this issue we report on the EPA Board’s recent visit to Broken Hill, we introduce the 20-year Waste Strategy and take a closer look at many initiatives and achievements in environment protection over the recent months. Read Autumn May 2019

22. Summer December 2018

    Welcome to the summer 2018 edition of the EPA Connect Newsletter. We’re using this bumper, new-look edition to look back on some of the EPA’s initiatives and achievements in environment protection this year. We also take the opportunity to look ahead to the next chapter in our 2017-21 Strategic Plan. Read Summer December 2018

23. Summer December 2017

    Welcome to the final edition of the EPA Connect Newsletter for 2017. It has yet again been another busy quarter for the NSW EPA, with the rollout of the NSW Government’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme collecting close to 5 million containers in its first week, and the EPA continuing to provide advice to residents affected by PFAS chemical contamination from the RAAF Base Williamtown. Read Summer December 2017

24. Spring October 2017

    Welcome to the latest edition of the EPA Connect Newsletter. It’s been a busy winter period with the EPA hosting the NSW Government’s Clean Air Summit which considered how we can all work towards improving air quality over the next 10 years. I’m also happy to report that the Container Deposit Scheme, now known as Return and Earn, is set to start from 1 December with over 500 collection points across the State. Read Spring October 2017

25. Autumn April 2017

    In January, we welcomed the Hon Gabrielle Upton as the new Minister for the Environment, Minister for Local Government and Minister for Heritage. Minister Upton is the Member for Vaucluse. In this edition we cover Minister Upton’s launch of the Hey Tosser! Autumn campaign, including the launch of 40 GPS-tracked bottles across the state’s waterways, to raise awareness of litter impacts Read Autumn April 2017

26. Summer December 2016

    Welcome to our final edition of EPA Connect for 2016. It’s been a busy couple of months since our last newsletter with some major initiatives and campaigns underway. Read Summer December 2016