Mt Keira Asbestos Dumper Hit With $30,000 Fine Despite Unusual Defence
A Dapto skip bin contractor who offered a bizarre explanation for being caught at an illegal dumping site on Mount Keira has been fined $30,000 by environmental authorities. Engin Celik, owner of Pro Skip Bin Hire, claimed he was having intimate relations with his wife in his truck when mountain bikers filmed the vehicle stuck on a power line cable at a known dumping hotspot.
Asbestos Waste Left Unattended Despite Clean-Up Order
The Environment Protection Authority confirmed the dumped building materials contained hazardous asbestos. On December 23 last year, the EPA issued Celik with a clean-up notice requiring removal of the waste from bushland between Clive Bissell Drive and Harry Graham Drive. However, the contractor failed to comply with this directive, leading to additional penalties.
The EPA has now imposed two separate $15,000 fines - one for the illegal dumping incident itself, and another for non-compliance with the clean-up order. The waste remains in place despite the regulatory intervention.
Unusual Excuse Fails to Convince Environmental Regulators
When contacted by local media in December about the incident, Celik provided an unexpected explanation via email. "Yes I was passing through that area with my wife and we pulled over to have sex," he wrote. "As it is very difficult to find time at home with three kids finally time for our selves no kids we just had to pull over."
EPA director Dr Katelyn Edge dismissed this defence, particularly given the hazardous nature of the dumped material. "Illegal dumping of any kind is unacceptable - especially when it involves asbestos," Dr Edge stated. "People can come up with whatever creative excuses they want; we will pursue illegal dumpers to protect the community and the environment."
Known Dumping Hotspot With Surveillance History
The Mount Keira location where the incident occurred has been recognised for years as a problematic area for illegal waste disposal. Wollongong City Council previously installed CCTV cameras at the site in June 2022 as part of a trial program to deter dumping activities.
While no prosecutions resulted directly from the camera footage, council officials reported success in reducing dumping incidents during the monitoring period. The trial has since concluded, with cameras now deployed covertly at various illegal dumping hotspots across the Wollongong region.
Council representatives confirmed the Pro Skip Bins incident was not captured by surveillance equipment, highlighting the ongoing challenges in monitoring remote bushland areas.
Clear Business Identification Aided Investigation
The mountain bikers who filmed the incident captured clear footage showing the business name "Pro Skip Bin Hire" and contact details displayed prominently on the truck's exterior. This visual evidence proved crucial in identifying the responsible party and pursuing regulatory action.
Dr Edge emphasised the importance of community reporting in combating environmental offences. "We won't stand for people dumping hazardous waste in our beautiful bushland," she declared. "Let this be a reminder to the community that when we issue a clean-up notice requiring waste to be removed, there will be consequences if the waste isn't cleaned up."
The EPA encourages residents to report pollution incidents and illegal dumping through their Environment Line at info@epa.nsw.gov.au or by calling 131 555. This case demonstrates the agency's commitment to pursuing environmental offenders regardless of the explanations offered for their presence at dumping sites.
