Environment Protection Authority South Australia
EPA South Australia is a state statutory authority that regulates environmental protection across South Australia, licensing industrial activities, monitoring air and water quality, managing site contamination, administering the Container Deposit Scheme, and enforcing environmental law via inspections and prosecutions.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Environment Protection Authority South Australia does
The Environment Protection Authority South Australia (EPA SA) is a statutory authority of the Government of South Australia, established in 1995 under the Environment Protection Act 1993, charged with protecting, restoring and enhancing the state's environment. It is the sole environmental regulator for South Australia and operates with a headcount of 101-250 staff based in Adelaide. Its functional mandate covers air quality, water quality, groundwater, site contamination, waste, noise, radiation and climate change, delivered through licensing, monitoring, enforcement and community engagement.
EPA SA's core 'products' are regulatory and informational rather than commercial. The agency issues environmental authorisations and licences to industrial, commercial, agricultural and radiation users, runs the online WasteTracker waste documentation system, publishes the searchable Public Register of licences, authorisations, orders and Section 7 property interests, and operates a network of air quality monitoring stations across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. It also delivers the South Australian Container Deposit Scheme (663+ million containers recycled in 2023-24, 75% return rate, >A$66m returned to the community), compiles the National Pollutant Inventory for SA (493 reporting facilities in 2022-23), and produces the five-yearly State of the Environment Report (most recently 2023).
The business model is regulatory rather than commercial: EPA SA is funded by South Australian Government appropriations, licence fees from regulated businesses under a published Licence Fee System, and waste levy receipts. There is no software-as-a-service product, no app, no disclosed API and no commercial pricing model. Goto-market is effectively the public register and a 24/7 pollution reporting hotline (8204 2004 / 1800 623 445), with stakeholder engagement delivered through a monthly EPA Monitor newsletter, LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram channels, the Engage EPA consultation platform, the YourSAy SA Government portal and in-person community sessions. The agency is governed by an independent Board (Presiding Member: Catherine Cooper) and led by Chief Executive Jon Gorvett.
Environment Protection Authority South Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Environment Protection Authority South Australia
- Legal name
- Environment Protection Authority South Australia
- Website
- https://epa.sa.gov.au
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EPA South Australia is a state statutory authority that regulates environmental protection across South Australia, licensing industrial activities, monitoring air and water quality, managing site contamination, administering the Container Deposit Scheme, and enforcing environmental law via inspections and prosecutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Environment Protection Authority South Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Regulation
- NAICS
- Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)
- SIC
- Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pollution Control & Environmental Compliance Enforcement (BPAIAMAB), State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), Drinking Water Quality & Safe Water Regulatory Authorities (HLAJAFAD), Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Agencies (BPAIAOAM)
Keywords
Where Environment Protection Authority South Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Markets served
Environment Protection Authority South Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Environment Protection Authority South Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Environment Protection Authority South Australia is an independent statutory authority that regulates environmental protection across South Australia under the Environment Protection Act 1993. It issues environmental authorisations and licences to industrial, commercial, mining, waste, and radiation activities; operates monitoring networks for air, groundwater, and water quality; investigates pollution incidents and noise nuisance; manages site contamination assessments and Groundwater Prohibition Areas; administers the Container Deposit Scheme; and publishes the State of the Environment Report. The authority also enforces compliance through civil penalties, prosecutions, and licence conditions.
Product overview
The Environment Protection Authority South Australia (EPA SA) is a government regulatory agency that does not offer a unified software product in the traditional sense. Instead, it provides a portfolio of environmental management services and programs including pollution reporting and incident management, licensing for industrial activities, waste tracking (WasteTracker), air and water quality monitoring, site contamination assessment, radiation licensing, and the Container Deposit Scheme. These services are delivered through a combination of online portals, regulatory frameworks, and public registers rather than a single platform architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Environmental Authorisations and Licensing
- WasteTracker Online Waste Tracking System Online waste tracking system enabling waste producers, transporters, and receiving facilities to document and track the transport of waste in South Australia, supporting compliance with waste levy and transport obligations.
- Public Register Searchable online register providing public access to environmental authorisations, licences, site contamination index, radiation licences, new applications, orders, and property interests (Section 7) under South Australian environmental legislation.
- Air Quality Monitoring Network Network of air quality monitoring stations across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia providing continuous air quality data, including campaigns at Birkenhead, Peterhead, and Sellicks Beach.
- Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment Program Program of guidelines and bore networks for groundwater quality monitoring of regulated activities, including bore network design, sampling, baseline quality establishment, and assessment criteria. Supports the establishment of Groundwater Prohibition Areas to protect public health.
- Container Deposit Scheme South Australia's container deposit scheme, first introduced in 1977, allowing consumers to return eligible beverage containers for a 10-cent refund. In 2023-24 the scheme returned 663+ million containers and paid out $66+ million in refunds at a 75% return rate.
- Site Contamination Assessment and Audit System Regulatory service for the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites, including audit accreditation, assessment areas, certified practitioner selection, and the site contamination index. Supports the protection of human health and the environment from legacy industrial contamination.
- Radiation Licensing and Regulation Licensing and regulation of radiation sources, apparatus, and radioactive materials under the Radiation Protection and Control Act 2021, including guidance documents, codes of compliance, radiation management plans, and incident reporting. Covers medical, industrial, scientific, and mining uses.
- National Pollutant Inventory (SA) Online pollutant emissions inventory for South Australia tracking emissions from industrial, commercial, transport, and household activities. In 2022-23, 493 South Australian facilities submitted NPI data out of 4,691 total Australian facilities.
- Pollution and Incident Reporting Service 24/7 pollution and emergency incident reporting service via a hotline (8204 2004 and 1800 623 445 for country callers), enabling first response to environmental harm, including a separate Algal Bloom Hotline (1800 774 779).
- State of the Environment Report 5-yearly state of the environment reporting, with the State of the Environment Report 2023 launched on 29 February 2024 making recommendations to safeguard South Australia's environment with focus on climate change and biodiversity losses.
Companies that use Environment Protection Authority South Australia
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Environment Protection Authority South Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Environment Protection Authority South Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists (AANMS)minorEPA Radiation Protection Officers attended AANMS training in Brisbane on theranostics in nuclear medicine. AANMS oversees recognition of experience in theranostics for nuclear medicine specialists through its Theranostics Committee.
- LGA South AustraliacorePartnership agreement renewed through 2026 between LGA South Australia and EPA SA to work collaboratively on environmental protection. Focus areas include Container Deposit Scheme coordination, climate adaptation policy, and regulatory practice improvement. Both organisations hold each other accountable through open communication and meaningful engagement.
- Department for Environment and Water (DEW)coreDEW is responsible for preparing South Australia's environmental trend and condition report cards which form part of the 5-yearly State of the Environment Report. EPA coordinates with DEW on biodiversity science, water resources, and environmental monitoring.
- Department for Energy and MiningminorEPA provided support to Department for Energy and Mining to investigate mangrove dieback at Dry Creek saltfield. EPA's scientific monitoring was published on the DEM website.
- Kangaroo Island Landscape BoardminorSite selection consultation for Aquatic Ecosystem Condition Reports conducted with Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Green Adelaide, and Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.
- Green AdelaideminorPartner in selection of monitoring sites for aquatic ecosystem condition reporting in metropolitan Adelaide areas.
- Hills and Fleurieu Landscape BoardminorPartner in site selection for aquatic ecosystem condition monitoring in the Mount Lofty Ranges region.
- Dairy SAminorEPA participated in Dairy SA organised workshops in Hahndorf and Lower South East to assist farmers with dairy farm effluent management and environmental obligations. Sessions held in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria.
- Agriculture VictoriaminorCross-jurisdictional collaboration with EPA SA on dairy farm effluent management workshops held in South Australia, sharing best practices and regulatory approaches.
- Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)minorNational counterpart for radiation protection and nuclear safety. Referenced as a key stakeholder and information resource for radiation regulatory matters under the Radiation Protection and Control Act 2021.
- Government of South AustraliacoreEPA is an independent statutory authority of the Government of South Australia, operating under the Environment Protection Act 1993 and reporting to the Minister for Environment. The organisation is governed by an independent Board appointed by the government.
- Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators neTwork (AELERT)minorEPA is hosting AELERT for the next three years, bringing opportunities for greater collaboration and innovation with regulatory peers in other Australian jurisdictions. EPA staff attend AELERT workshops on regulatory capture and risk communications.
- B-cycleminorB-cycle is South Australia's dedicated battery collection program for recycling batteries correctly. EPA refers the public to B-cycle collection sites as the safe disposal pathway for batteries to prevent fires in waste facilities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Environment Protection Authority South Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Environment Protection Authority Victoria: Victorian state environmental regulator with overlapping functions including licensing, pollution response, and waste regulation. Notable overlap as EPA SA's former CEO departed to lead Recycling Victoria, a related Victorian agency.
- NSW Environment Protection Authority: Statutory environmental regulator for New South Wales with a comparable mandate covering licensing, pollution prevention, waste, and contaminated sites. Most analogous peer given similar scale and regulatory architecture under parallel state legislation.
- Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (ACT): ACT's environmental regulator with comparable functions including licensing, pollution response, and contaminated sites management under ACT legislation. Direct peer in small-jurisdiction model.
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA): Western Australia's environmental regulator combining water resource and pollution control functions. Comparable state-level environmental regulator with licensing and compliance mandate.
- Tasmania Environment Protection Authority: Statutory environmental regulator for Tasmania with a similar scope covering pollution control, contaminated sites, and waste management under its own EP Act framework. Comparable in smaller-jurisdiction operating model.
- Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority: Statutory environmental regulator for the Northern Territory. Smaller jurisdiction analogue with parallel functions in environmental impact assessment, contaminated sites, and pollution control.
Others
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA): National radiation protection agency that serves as EPA SA's federal counterpart on radiation matters under the Radiation Protection and Control Act 2021. Adjacent enabling regulator rather than direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (Queensland): Queensland's lead agency for environmental regulation including pollution management, contaminated land, and waste. Larger jurisdiction with broader portfolio than EPA SA but overlapping environmental functions.
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): Australian Government department responsible for national environmental policy, including climate change, and a key counterpart to state EPAs. EPA SA coordinates with DCCEEW on national frameworks like the National Pollutant Inventory.
Regional players
- Recycling Victoria: Victorian statutory authority responsible for waste and resource recovery. Operates in a different state but shares the circular economy and waste regulatory remit with EPA SA; notably led by EPA SA's former CEO Tony Circelli.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Environment Protection Authority South Australia social profiles
Digital presenceEnvironment Protection Authority South Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Environment Protection Authority South Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Environment Protection Authority South Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Environment Protection Authority South Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Environment Protection Authority South Australia
What does Environment Protection Authority South Australia do?
Environment Protection Authority South Australia is an independent statutory authority that regulates environmental protection across South Australia under the Environment Protection Act 1993. It issues environmental authorisations and licences to industrial, commercial, mining, waste, and radiation activities; operates monitoring networks for air, groundwater, and water quality; investigates pollution incidents and noise nuisance; manages site contamination assessments and Groundwater Prohibition Areas; administers the Container Deposit Scheme; and publishes the State of the Environment Report. The authority also enforces compliance through civil penalties, prosecutions, and licence conditions.
Is Environment Protection Authority South Australia a public or private company?
Environment Protection Authority South Australia is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Environment Protection Authority South Australia founded?
Environment Protection Authority South Australia was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Environment Protection Authority South Australia based?
Environment Protection Authority South Australia is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
Who are Environment Protection Authority South Australia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Environment Protection Authority Victoria, NSW Environment Protection Authority, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (ACT), Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Tasmania Environment Protection Authority and Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (Queensland) and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Recycling Victoria is listed as a regional player.
Does Environment Protection Authority South Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Environment Protection Authority South Australia.
What industry is Environment Protection Authority South Australia in?
Environment Protection Authority South Australia's product category is Environmental Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAFAA, Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAB, Pollution Control & Environmental Compliance Enforcement. Its NAICS code is 924 and its SIC code is 4900.