The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessment of a proposal by Cleanaway Daniels Services Pty Ltd for a Clinical Waste treatment facility at 47 Crooked Billet Drive in Bridgewater.
The proposal is for the treatment of clinical waste by autoclave and penetrative steam. The facility is proposed to receive 1,800 tonnes of clinical waste per annum with treated waste transported for disposal at an approved landfill offsite. Waste that cannot be treated by autoclave will be shipped to an incineration facility in Laverton, Victoria.
The EPA Executive Director, Environmental Assessments, Martin Read, who made the determination under delegation from the EPA Board, concluded the proposed development can be managed in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner, with certain conditions. The Board requires these conditions to be included in any permit subsequently granted by Brighton Council.
“Various environmental issues were considered by the Board in its assessment, particularly the potential for air emissions and the appropriate treatment and storage of clinical waste. Permit conditions included requirements for air emissions testing as well as regular validation reporting to ensure appropriate levels of waste sterilisation." Dr Read said.
No representations were received in relation to the permit application. Public consultation was open for 28 days from 25 June 2022.
The proposal was considered by the Executive Director in the context of the sustainable development objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and in the context of the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System (EMPCS) established by the EMPC Act.
The functions of the EPA are to administer and enforce the provisions of the EMPC Act, to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives and, in particular, to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of Tasmania.
The Executive Director undertook the assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the Act.
The Executive Director's environmental assessment report, including the environmental conditions, has been issued to Cleanaway Daniels Services Pty Ltd and Brighton Council.
The decision in relation to the Cleanaway Daniels Services, Clinical Waste Treatment Facility, Bridgewater can be viewed on this website.