GALBRAITH, Marcus

Rellik Group Pty Ltd is a Victorian waste management company which hold multiple Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licences. Mr Marcus Galbraith is an officer of Rellik Group Pty Ltd, by virtue of making decisions affecting the business of the Corporation.

Rellik was subcontracted by Veolia Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd to organise removal and transport of hand sanitiser from a warehouse in Truganina, to a processing facility licensed in NSW, for the sanitiser to be redistilled and repurposed. The hand sanitiser is industrial waste, and the organic solvent ethanol within the hand sanitiser is also classified as reportable priority waste. Rellik Group subcontracted to a further company to complete the transporting of the sanitiser.

Transport commenced on 20 February 2024, however by 14 April 2024, the intended facility reached capacity under their licensed limits. Rellik Group's subcontractor was aware of a premises in Woodside, Victoria, where the owner had previously been collecting hand sanitiser, under the belief he could use it as a potential fuel source. The subcontractor and Rellik Group agreed on an arrangement to transport the sanitiser to the Woodside Premises. Rellik Group paid their subcontractor $32,980 per truck load to transport, $20,400 of which was payment for the landowner to accept the waste, and the remainder was payment for their subcontractor. Between 15 April and 30 April 2024, 12 b-double truck loads, carrying 748 pallets, being approximately 374,000 litres (approx. 500 litres per pallet), were deposited at the Woodside Premises.

Rellik Group were aware that any change of receiving location had to be approved by Veolia. At no stage did Rellik Group inform Veolia of the change of receiving location.

EPA were made aware by the Wellington Shire Council that they had received a complaint in relation to trucks being seen depositing the waste. EPA and the Council conducted an inspection and located the stockpile of sanitiser, which was located on grass ground at the Woodside Premises. EPA issued an EAN requiring clean up of the sanitiser. The costs for the clean up were borne by the sub-contractor, and Rellik Group further sought to recoup the costs paid to the contractor. As at time of the proceedings, all waste had been removed from the premises.