EPA South Australia (EPA SA) has relaunched a campaign to ensure the safe transportation of waste material across the state, with construction and demolition operators particularly targeted.
EPA SA is specifically aiming Operation Cover-Up at truck drivers who don’t cover waste material properly for haulage, which poses a health and safety risk to the community.
Failing to cover a waste load is an infringement under the Environment Protection Act, which carries a $160 fine. EPA SA investigators have recently visited demolition sites in Adelaide to remind operators of their responsibility to ensure that trucks leaving their premises are appropriately covered.
Since Operation Cover-Up restarted in late October, EPA SA officers have identified at least 40 trucks in the Adelaide CBD and on metropolitan roads with uncovered loads of waste.
EPA SA’s Manager Investigations and Tactical Support, Stephen Barry, said most of these vehicles had come from demolition sites and were travelling to waste depots.
“The EPA is investigating these incidents and will be issuing expiation notices for ignoring their obligations under the Environment Protection Act,” Mr Barry said. “All loads of waste leaving a demolition site must always be covered to reduce the escape of waste and dust from vehicles especially when they are being driven through the city centre or passing by schools, shops and pedestrians,” he added.
“It’s been disappointing that in just one week our investigators have discovered more than 40 trucks travelling through the city and metro areas of Adelaide with uncovered loads of waste.”
EPA SA has undertaken enforcement action to underline the importance of safely transport waste throughout South Australia and will continue to run its Operation Cover-Up taskforce on random days to ensure compliance for the protection of public health and the environment.
The local community is being encouraged to report incidents of uncovered loads of waste to its hotline on (08) 8204 2004.