NSW Environment Protection Authority

NSW's independent environmental regulator. We protect the health of our environment and communities.

Aerial photograph of Murramarang National Park with lagoon behind beach

Stay up to date

flooded road

We are working closely with councils in Northern NSW to help communities prepare for and undertake waste clean-up following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Child drinking out of a water bubbler

The NSW Government is working to ensure we continue to provide safe drinking water to the people of NSW.

Young Ibis on the wing, Gwydir Wetlands, Northern NSW

Summary of recent regulatory, policy and legislative updates. Listed with most recent update first.

Embedded batteries in used vapes

Safe disposal of embedded batteries, including vapes, is under new trial. Find where to recycle them.

Bins and sections of Community Recycling Centre

CRC and Household Chemical CleanOut event services are currently disrupted, please check with the local council before visiting a centre or attending an event.

FOGO truck

NSW has a statewide mandate for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling, to reduce food waste and stop food waste going to landfill.

EPA officers at Tomingley Gold Operations

Read updates on environmental issues we are managing.

Assortment of single-use plastic cutlery

Several problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic items are banned, with further items to be reviewed in the future.

Latest media releases

See all media releases
Aerial photograph of the Cadia gold mine
02 Apr 2025

Newmont Mining’s (formerly Newcrest Mining’s) Cadia Holdings Pty Ltd (Cadia) has been ordered to pay more than $400,000 after being prosecuted by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for three dust emission offences that occurred between November 2021 and May 2023.

EPA logo
01 Apr 2025

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has undertaken water sampling at Medowie in Port Stephens and confirmed PFAS levels were below relevant Australian water quality guidelines.

A white corella perched in a tree after being released in Carrington, Newcastle
31 Mar 2025

Eighty corellas that survived a suspected poisoning have been released back into the Newcastle suburb where many of them were discovered in poor health.