The Environmental Protection Authority ('EPA') is responsible for issuing licenses, setting regulations, and investigating pollution cases. While the EPA doesn't resolve public complaints directly, individuals can report issues such as littering, illegal dumping, pollution, or violations of environmental laws. Additionally, complaints about the conduct of EPA staff members can also be made. This helps the EPA ensure environmental protection standards are met and maintained.
What types of complaints can you make?
- Waste and litter pollution: You can notify the EPA in relation to waste and litter pollution that you observe. A full list of this pollution type can be found here.
- Water pollution: You can make a report to the EPA if you observe contaminants like oils, chemicals, or waste materials being released into water bodies.
- Air pollution: You can make a report to the EPA if you encounter excessive smoke, dust, or odours in the air that could harm health or the environment.
- Chemical and Radiation pollution: You can make a report to the EPA if you come across improper handling, storage, or disposal of chemicals and radioactive materials.
- Noise pollution: You can make a report to the EPA if you're exposed to harmful levels of noise from industrial activities, construction sites, or entertainment venues.
- Odour pollution: You can make a report to the EPA if you experience persistent and offensive odours from factories, waste treatment facilities, or agricultural sites.
- Motor vehicle pollution: You can report motor vehicle pollution to the EPA if you observe vehicles causing environmental harm through air and noise pollution.. This can include:
- Littering from a vehicle
- Smoky vehicle
- Noisy exhaust
- Smoky vessels: Reports about smoky vessels involve boats or ships that are releasing excessive smoke into the air.
- EPA staff conduct: If you have an interaction with an EPA staff member that raises concerns, you have the right to report this.
Jurisdiction:
The EPA can receive reports regarding environmental incidents occurring in NSW.
Time Limitations:
The EPA does not have time limitations on reporting listed.
The EPA will not deal with complaints about:
If the major pollution incident poses an immediate threat to health or property, call 000 to report it as an emergency. The EPA may not be the responsible body for regulating the pollution you observe; another organisation or your local council may be the responsible body.
Exercise of discretion:
Following a report, the EPA will decide whether to continue an investigation based on the circumstances and nature of the incident, any potential offences, the evidence available, the severity of the harm and impacts on health, as well as the level of community concern.
Duty to Report:
Individuals who caused the pollution or occupy the land on which it occurs will have a duty to report the incident. Pollution incidents that threaten to cause or cause material harm to the environment must be notified.
Who can you make a complaint against?
You can make a complaint against:
- Individuals: An individual respondent refers to a single person responsible for the environmental issue being reported.
- Companies: A company as a respondent involves a business or corporation responsible for the environmental violation.
Are you eligible to make a complaint?
Who can make a complaint?
Anyone in NSW can make a report.
Before you lodge a complaint:
Prior to contacting the EPA, please contact the individual or company causing the pollution if you can. If the premises hold an Environmental Protection License, they will be required to hold a complaints line that you may first contact.
Can you make a report on behalf of someone?
Yes, you can report to the EPA on someone else's behalf. Ensure you provide detailed information about the incident, including the location, time, and any evidence like photos.
What can this body do to help?
This body may provide:
- Investigation: The EPA may decide to investigate your complaint and take action in response.
- Referral: If the EPA is not the appropriate body to handle your complaint, it will be referred to the appropriate NSW Government agency such as the NSW Ombudsman or the ICAC.
How to prepare your complaint
Format:
Your complaint may be put into the online form on the EPA website here or provided on the telephone on NSW EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.
Personal Details:
You may include the names of the individuals who observed the incident and your contact details (you may ask for this to be confidential). You can choose to remain anonymous when you make a complaint.
Respondent’s Details:
You do not need to provide respondent details if you do not know who has done the act.
Relevant Facts:
- The following relevant facts must be provided with your report:
- What is the issue? (e.g. dust, noise, odour)
- When did it happen? (time and date, how long did it last)
- Has this happened before?
- Where did it happen? (location details)
- How has it impacted the environment, your health or comfort?
- Other helpful details - Do you have any photos, video or other evidence?
- What were the weather conditions?
Additional Information:
The EPA notes not to use your mobile phone while driving and to pull over or ask a passenger to record the details. Please do not record the details if it affects your concentration or driving.
Lodging your complaint and next steps:
Where to lodge your complaint:
- Online Form: A report may be submitted on the EPA website here.
- Telephone: NSW EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555
Receipt/acknowledgement of complaint:
The EPA will provide the individual with a case number and appoint an officer to review the report.
Assessment/investigation and outcome:
The EPA may investigate the issue and may contact the individual again to request further information (if you have not asked to remain anonymous). The EPA will inform you of the outcome of the report.
More information:
Refer to the factsheet provided below for more information.
