David Bell, 46, was charged after he drove a forklift carrying a tank into a wash bay at WashWorks in Forrestdale around 9:40pm on Thursday, 24 June 2021.
Once in the bay, he opened two valves at the base of the tank, releasing liquid waste onto the floor of the wash bay, where it flowed into a contained area. It did not enter the environment. The incident, which was recorded on CCTV, left the owner of the carwash with a clean-up cost of $2,211.
Mr Bell is a director of D & K Bell Pty Ltd, which operates a mechanic business. On 23 November 2022 in the Armadale Magistrates Court, Mr Bell was fined $2,000, and his company was fined $6,000. An order was made for the offender to pay WashWorks $2,211 for the clean-up as well as $7,598 costs.
The maximum penalty for the offence is $62,500 for an individual and $125,000 for a company.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Executive Director for Compliance and Enforcement, Kelly Faulkner, said proper disposal of liquid waste was the responsibility of the business.
“Businesses should have a proper waste management plan in place,” she said.
“If a company needs advice to plan for its waste management, they can contact the department for guidance. Nobody should resort to illegal dumping to dispose of waste.”
