Free chemical collection to protect Sydney's drinking water - Minister Phillip Costa MP - 13 May 2010
Record amounts of chemicals were handed in to the Sydney Catchment Authority at free collection drives held across the catchment to prevent unwanted waste making its way into Sydney’s drinking water.
NSW Minister for Water, Phil Costa said more than 1200 residents living in the Sydney drinking water catchment handed in 47 tonnes of unwanted household and agricultural chemicals at collections across Moss Vale, Crookwell, Goulburn, Picton, Wallerawang and Lithgow.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for landowners to get rid of chemicals that could potentially contaminate waterways and catchment land that feed into Sydney’s drinking water storages,” Minister Costa said.
“It’s vital that we protect the integrity of the drinking water supplies for more than 4 million people.
“Dumping chemicals in the drinking catchment is a serious offence and individuals can be fined if they are found to illegally dispose of their chemical waste.
“Individual penalties of up to $250,000 may apply for illegally disposing of chemical waste, with the potential for daily penalties of up to $60,000 a day for every day the offence continues.
“These collections are held to give landowners and residents the chance to safely remove their unwanted household and agricultural chemicals for free.
“Chemicals that are disposed of with domestic garbage or poured down the drain can find their way into waterways and cause environmental harm.
“I want to congratulate landowners in the catchments for working with us to protect our local environment and ensure that dangerous chemicals do not pose a threat to our drinking supplies.
“Once collected, chemicals are made safe, recycled or destroyed.
“Paints, oils, lead acid batteries and pesticides were the most common types of waste collected."
Chemicals dropped off include pesticides and herbicides (fungicides, baits/poisons, wood preservatives), paint and paint-related products, solvents and household cleaners, motor oils and fuels, batteries, household gas bottles, fire extinguishers, fluorescent tubes, pool and hobby chemicals (photography chemicals etc), acids and alkalis.
For more information on substances and materials accepted, how to transport chemicals safely, or other collection sites in your region, please call the CleanOut Hotline on 131 555 for the cost of a local call and ask for the “Household Chemical CleanOut Program” or go to www.cleanout.com.au or www.sca.nsw.gov.au.
