<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW Environment Protection Authority has launched a suite of prosecutions after investigating asbestos-tainted mulch across </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The investigation, which the EPA said was the largest in its history, was launched after bonded asbestos was discovered in mulch at Rozelle Parklands earlier this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Of 300 sites inspected, 79 were identified as having used tainted mulch.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/business-collapse-numbers-australia-explained-interview-exclusive/950ca384-a678-4537-94b2-b18ec0f359d2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Why Belinda and many others were forced to shutter their business</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All 79 sites have now been cleaned up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The EPA said it had levelled 102 charges in total as a result of the investigation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>VE Resource Recovery Pty Ltd has been accused of breaching its environment protection licence by failing to carry out resource recovery activities competently.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-epa-launches-prosecutions-over-asbestos-mulch/2b26c28b-8f78-4922-95f2-308338cbc10c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company's director Arnold Vitocco has been charged with executive liability in relation to the alleged breach.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-preview-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton/f452118f-db0d-417f-9df3-cf2ff6f5ce48" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Attack lines sharpening, campaigns stirring as federal election looms</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2024/12/23/12/28/today-in-history-december-24-what-happened-on-this-day-in-pictures"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ZbngBAG9jktds1tWMR-aU9Sh4sI=/0x49:800x499/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F32344224-b910-41fc-a1a6-3a023875cb30" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ZbngBAG9jktds1tWMR-aU9Sh4sI=/0x49:800x499/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F32344224-b910-41fc-a1a6-3a023875cb30 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/F62O1YKDWuGbqS9rmxWvg8TNN4c=/0x49:800x499/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F32344224-b910-41fc-a1a6-3a023875cb30 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">The blood-soaked Western Front falls silent</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2024/12/23/12/28/today-in-history-december-24-what-happened-on-this-day-in-pictures">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two entities trading as Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility, namely Freescale Trading Pty Ltd and Runkorp Pty Ltd, have been charged with 50 offences each.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The charges against the Greenlife companies include breaching a resource recover order, re-using asbestos waste, and carrying out activities such as composting, resource recovery, and waste storage, without an EPA-issed licence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The alleged offences overall relate to 26 sites, including Rozelle Parklands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first directions hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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