TWO tonnes of human waste became dislodge from a tip truck and closed a major highway west of Sydney today.

The truck was transporting the “fertiliser’’ to farms when the truck had to brake suddenly on the Great Western highway at Katoomba just after midday.

Traffic was diverted for two hours as fire crews cleaned the spillage.

"A bobcat was called in and most of the waste put back into the truck,’’ A fire spokesman said.

“An absorbent was then put on the remaining substance so none of the waste was touched with water and avoiding wash off.

“Our major concern was making sure none of the substance got into the storm water system and luckily the weather conditions were good and the operation went well,’’ he said.

The road was reopened shortly before 2.30pm.

An investigation into the spillage is underway.



Originally published as Spill causes stink in Katoomba