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 2013 - 2023 

The charts below provide details of all complaints about licensed facilities received from 2013 to 2023.  

Complaints Graph 2013 to 2023

 

  • One site accounted for 46% of all complaints received in 2023
  • There was a 29% decrease in complaints during 2023 compared to 2022.
  • Odour and noise remain the most complained about issues. 90% of all complaints related to odour (47%) or noise (43%)
  • Complaints were received by the EPA in relation to 101 (11%) of licensed facilities in 2023.

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