Cleanaway has been warned for not immediately notifying the environment watchdog about methane exceedance at its Ravenhall landfill.
The company recorded the levels, which potentially breached its licence, on April 8, but only notified the Environment Protection Authority 12 days later.
Failing to immediately notify the EPA of a licence breach is an offence, EPA metro manager Dan Hunt said.
“While the impact from the exceedance itself was marginal, Cleanaway should have informed EPA about the incident, however it took them almost two weeks.”
“Licence holders have obligations to operate within EPA licence conditions and when that doesn’t happen, they must be held to account to ensure community and the environment is not impacted.”
Mr Hunt said EPA was assessing the measures Cleanaway had put in place to address the methane non-compliance.
“EPA has also commenced an investigation into the possible cause of the methane licence breach which is ongoing at this time.”
Cleanaway has been contacted for comment.
