Each year, the EPA receives a significant number of complaints from the public about licensed facilities. When we receive a complaint about a licensed facility, we first establish whether the person who made the complaint wishes their personal details to be kept confidential. We forward the complaint to the licensee, with or without the complainant’s details, and instruct them to carry out an investigation into the complaint.
We assess the licensee’s response and ensure that the complainant is informed of the outcome, either by the licensee or by the EPA depending on the complainant’s choice about their confidentiality.
We may separately carry out our own monitoring, and additional enforcement work may also be necessary. If the complaints continue, or if the licensee has not carried out the works needed to rectify the problem, the EPA may take legal action against the licensee.
Complaints about licensed sites 2019 - Q1 2026
The charts below provide details of all complaints about licensed facilities received from 2019 to Q1 2026.
- One site accounted for 33% of all complaints received in Q1 2026.
- There was a 32% increase in complaints in Q1 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
- Odour and noise remain the most complained about issues. 93% of all complaints related to odour (67%) or noise (26%)
- Complaints were received by the EPA in relation to 45 (5%) of licensed facilities in Q1 2026.
Summary details on complaints received in relation to industrial and waste licensed sites are provided in the charts below with additional information available on LEAP online (public access to compliance and enforcement records).
Details of how to make a complaint regarding an EPA licensed facility are provided here