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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Lisa Cox

Testing regime meant to stop toxic chemicals going into NSW landscape products gamed by suppliers

Graphic showing recovered fines
Revelations will create further headaches for the NSW government facing a separate crisis related to asbestos-contaminated mulch. Composite: Environmental Protection Agency / AAP / Alamy

A testing regime meant to stop toxic chemicals going into landscaping products in New South Wales has been gamed by suppliers who kept retesting samples until they passed.

Waste facilities making soil fill from construction and demolition waste – called “recovered fines” – are required to test their product for hazardous contaminants and report results to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) if they exceed legislated thresholds.

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