Nonferral fined $60,000 by Shepparton Magistrate

A Shepparton magistrate has fined Nonferral Recycling Pty Ltd $60,000 for failure to comply with a court order concerning the removal of hazardous lead and aluminium waste being stored at its Swainston Rd, Shepparton site.

Nonferal must now remove the remaining waste by 30 November 2025, pay the $60,000 fine as well as pay EPA’s $35,000 costs.

His Honour Magistrate Zebrowski ordered the clean up in April 2024 and required Nonferal to provide a report to EPA setting out where the lead and aluminium waste would be going, provide evidence of a contractual agreement between the parties for the receipt of the waste as well as when the waste would be transported.

Nonferral was required to ensure all of the materials were removed from the premises to one or more facilities lawfully allowed to accept it by 9 October 2024, but this did not happen.

“EPA has a long history of regulatory action on the Nonferal site issuing notices and taking action on multiple occasions,” said EPA North East Regional Manager Ben Kneebone.

“The community and the environment should not be put at risk by waste being accepted and stored on a site that is not legally permissioned to take it.

“Magistrate Zebrowski’s decision is a clear message to Nonferal and the waste industry generally that they must act within the law and they must not put the environment at risk."

Mr Kneebone said he was pleased that the removal of the remaining lead waste was imminent further reducing risk at the site.