Inspections conducted by the NT Environmental Protection Authority on unlicensed dumps revealed that toxic materials such as asbestos, chemical waste, and other health hazards abound in landfills across the Territory – having a far worse effect on human health than originally projected.

In its most recent annual report, the environmental watchdog found that unapproved and unlicensed landfills proliferate the Territory, particularly in regional industrial sites, near remote towns, Aboriginal communities and roadhouses.

EPA’s investigators reported that the scale of the damage done to the environment and human health caused by illegal dumps was far worse than what was projected over the last year.

Last year’s inspection covered regions including Katherine, Tiwi, Borroloola and Barkly, East Arnhem, West Daly, Victoria Daly and Alice Springs, including several sites which were scrutinized for the first time.

EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said in the agency’s annual report that it was earlier thought that most of the dump sites were low risk. Investigations, however, found that the sites have high levels of pollution and contamination.

Mr Vogel said that there were even traces of metal mining at one of the illegal dumps.

“The usual suspects were waste tyres, industrial metal and building products, white goods and e-wastes, listed and hazardous wastes, oils, chemicals, and paints,” he said. “Perhaps most worrying was the discovery of dead livestock and animals, asbestos, sites being set alight as a method of routine management.”

Used tires are home to vermin, would discharge toxic fumes when burned and could trickle contaminants into groundwater, which impacts negatively on environmental and human health risks, Mr Vogel said.

The EPA issued 72 penalty infringement notices last year, with the City of Darwin served with 17 notices.

The agency, however, said that there was a decline in the reported environmental incidents to the Territory’s pollution hotline, from 1,001 the year before to 845 in 2022-22.

Its online waste tracking program, meanwhile, kept track of more than 1,790 interstate hazardous waste being sent to their destination, at an average of five movements every day.

Data from the most recent inspections of illegal dump sites will be used for future compliance planning and strategies to advance landfill management across the Territory, the EPA said.