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The Guardian - AU

National

Rafqa Touma

NSW regulator chose to reveal content of Sydney’s mystery beach balls on day of US election

EPA Sue Higginson New South Wales Sydney United States Guardian Australia Sydney Water UNSW

Black, ball-shaped debris washed along the length of Sydney’s Coogee beach, 15 October 2024. — Black, ball-shaped debris washed onto Sydney beaches, including Coogee, in mid-October. Photograph: Randwick City Council/Facebook

The NSW environment watchdog allegedly knew for more than a week that thousands of mystery balls that washed up on Sydney beaches last month were probably consistent with human-generated waste before it made the news public as US election results dominated headlines.

A statement from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on Wednesday revealed the balls comprised fatty acids, petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic materials – including traces of drugs, hair, motor oil, food waste, animal matter and human faeces.

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