Parks closed. Schools shuttered. Hospital grounds cordoned off. The discovery of asbestos-contaminated mulch across Sydney in January 2024 triggered widespread public health concerns and the largest investigation in NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) history. Now, property developer and Max Brenner chocolate café chain owner Arnold Vitocco faces charges, along with several companies linked to him, over what became a citywide environmental health crisis. The EPA has brought forward 102 charges related to asbestos-contaminated mulch found at 26 sites across Sydney. Their investigation—described by the authority as their “largest investigation in the EPA’s history”—examined over 300 locations, with 79 ultimately testing … Continue reading Sydney Asbestos Mulch Crisis: 79 Contaminated Sites Lead to 102 Charges