Tomago concrete recyclers fined $30,000 for exceeding waste limits

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Recycled Concrete Products Pty Ltd (RCP) $30,000 after it was found to have significantly exceeded its licensed waste limits. 

The facility, which recycles used concrete, bricks, and pavers into products such as road base, is located in Tomago near Newcastle and is licensed to process 30,000 tonnes of concrete waste per year. 

A review of the EPA’s waste and resource reporting data found that by August 2024—just 5 months into its reporting period—the company had already exceeded its annual limit by more than 4,000 tonnes. After 8 months, it had received almost double its permitted annual allowance.
NSW EPA Executive Director Operations, Jason Gordon, said the EPA is concerned with RCP’s licence breach.

"Our licence limits are devised to help protect the environment and community by controlling the amount of waste processed onsite and reduce the risk of possible pollution such as contaminated water runoff and dust,” Mr Gordon said.

“Any proposed changes to operation limits need approval to ensure the appropriate environmental protections are in place. 

“Despite our warnings that it was an offence to continue receiving waste, the company proceeded to unlawfully receive an additional 20,000 tonnes between September and November 2024.

“This is a clear breach of licence limits and a failure to follow EPA requirements which is not acceptable, and in addition to this fine, we will be maintaining very close oversight to ensure compliance with these licence conditions moving forward."

RCP has been unable to accept waste since December 2024 due to an EPA Prevention Notice issued to stop the licence limit breaches. It will be able to resume operations from the end of March 2025.