The report outlines the EPA’s significant progress on the Premier’s Priority of:
- Reducing litter by 40% by 2020
- The introduction of the most stringent air particle standards in the world
- A successful first year as lead regulator of the NSW gas industry
- The establishment of a state-wide program to investigate the impact of PFAS substances (per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl), following our response to firefighting foam contamination in the Williamtown area.
Over the year EPA littering and waste reduction programs continued to gain the support of the NSW community, with over 7,500 people registering to report littering from vehicles using the new ‘Report to EPA’ mobile app, and more than half a million households participating in our mobile Household Chemical CleanOut.
In 2015-16 our new risk-based licensing system got off to a good start, with the overall environmental risk level determined more than 1,400 licensed premises over the course of the year. EPA’s ability to protect the environment was also enhanced when we took over pesticide licensing from local council in September 2015.
With over $10 million in penalties imposed under EPA legislation, it’s clear we are holding polluters to account. The report includes several case studies of successful prosecutions and enforceable undertakings which demonstrate the EPA’s efficacy as a regulator.
Read more about the EPA’s achievements in 2015 – 2016 here.