Moolap company G.T. Plastic Recyclers has been fined nearly $10,000 for breaching the conditions of a permit from EPA Victoria.
G.T Plastic Recyclers failed to notify EPA when its stockpiles of soft plastic waste had exceeded their size limits.
EPA Southwest Regional Manager Martha-Rose Loughnane says officers spotted the stockpiles during proactive inspections of waste processing and recycling sites across the state.
"Aerial photography showed us the large stockpiles of combustible waste did not comply with the EPA guidelines that are designed to minimise the risk of fire," Ms Loughnane said.
EPA followed up with an unannounced inspection, finding multiple stockpiles of baled soft plastics up to 4 meters high – those were too high and too close together to minimise the risk and severity of a fire.
EPA officers issued remedial notices straight away to manage the unacceptable stockpiles.
"The company's failure to report the non-compliance to EPA was another breach of the permit conditions and demonstrates the kind of poor risk management practices that can lead to an uncontrollable fire," Ms Loughnane said.
"The message for other waste and recycling businesses is that they must comply with their EPA permission conditions to avoid a fine or prosecution. These conditions are designed to manage to risk of a fire that can be disastrous for human health and the environment," she said.
A permission from EPA – a registration, permit or licence - is both an authorisation for the business activity and a clear set of conditions that must be met.
"EPA officers conducting proactive fire prevention work are still finding unacceptable fire risks in the waste and recycling industry, and GT Recyclers is just another example."
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.
Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA's 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
Businesses can find EPA's Management and storage of combustible recyclable and waste materials guideline here: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1667-3
