A Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court has put a serious dent in skip hire company Ironman Bin Hire Pty Ltd and its sole director Randi Yousha with fines and costs totalling $50,000.
At properties in Blackwells Lane, Bulla and Merri Course, Campbellfield, Yousha and Ironman Bin Hire accepted industrial waste unlawfully, buried or burnt it and then failed to comply with EPA Victoria's notices to report back on the issues they had created.
Yousha pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined $25,000 with costs of a further $5,000 for illegal acceptance and disposal of the waste. Ironman Bin Hire was fined $20,000 for failing to comply with EPA notices. The Magistrate also ordered that all industrial waste be removed from the properties by 17 December 2024.
The Magistrate heard that Yousha was not remorseful despite an early guilty plea, had not made an attempt to find out what his environmental obligations were despite outlaying an estimated $4million to set up the company, had repeated his illegal activity several times between March 2022 and September 2023 and was not cooperative in supplying EPA with the information required of him.
"The motivation for this kind of behaviour, to wilfully ignore the potential environmental damage by illegally taking in demolition and construction waste and disposing of it recklessly, is driven by pure profit making," said EPA North Metropolitan Acting Regional Manager Chloe Bernett.
"The fines reflect the seriousness of the offending. The convictions also have ramifications potentially limiting Ironman Bin Hire and Yousha from any future government contracts. Reoffending also increases the likelihood of more severe financial penalties.
"Our message to the construction and demolition waste disposal industry has been consistent and clear; non-compliance will cost you. Everyone has an obligation to protect the environment and to ignore that to chase a dollar is not acceptable to the Victorian community.
"We will be maintaining our vigilance over Ironman Bin Hire and they will need to prove to us they are meeting the requirements of the Court's waste removal order."
