The Environmental Regulation Division conducted a targeted intelligence campaign to identify businesses transporting asbestos waste without an Environment Protection Licence (EPL). Under the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998, it is an offence to transport listed wastes, including asbestos waste, on a commercial or fee-for-service basis without an EPL.
The project was a key deliverable under the 2024-2025 Compliance Plan and followed a structured process involving intelligence gathering, data matching and data analysis.
Three external datasets were collected to identify potential unlicensed operators:
- The NT WorkSafe asbestos notification register
- Landfill disposal applications
- Landfill weighbridge tickets
These datasets were used to develop testing criteria to determine unlicensed asbestos transport.
13 businesses met the criteria; they appeared in weighbridge data, did not hold an EPL, and appeared to be operating on a commercial or fee-for-service basis. These businesses became the focus of regulatory action.
Regulatory actions
This included:
- transport industry education letters outlining findings and obligations
- landfill industry education letters highlighting issues and clarifying requirements
- targeted compliance letters requesting activity details and providing EPL guidance
Outcomes
- 5 businesses were cleared after further investigation
- 3 businesses acknowledged their obligations and committed to using licenced transporters
- 3 businesses applied for and were granted an EPL for asbestos transport
- 2 businesses remain under regulatory focus
Asbestos transport will continue to be a compliance focus for 2025–26 with further intelligence campaigns planned to monitor industry compliance.
Read the full intelligence report PDF (939.6 KB).