A Laverton North scrap metal recycling company will contribute $35,000 towards a Wyndham City Council restorative justice project following court action bought by EPA Victoria.
OneSteel Recycling, trading as Infrabuild Recycling, was the site of a major fire in January 2021 at its Fitzgerald St facility. It took 80 firefighters about three hours to bring the blaze under control.
The fire broke out in a stockpiles of scrap metals, plastics, rubber, wood and cardboard most likely due to an undetected waste battery igniting, however the cause, following an investigation, remains undetermined.
EPA argued in Sunshine Magistrates Court on November 21, that while OneSteel was upgrading their systems, they should have had better fire management capability and should have had better stockpile management processes both before and after the fire.
EPA sought an outcome that would benefit the community through a court directed payment towards a community project instead of a fine.
OneSteel pled guilty and the Magistrate noted that while OneSteel had been cooperative, and had since improved its systems, it had been operating while not in compliance with the Environment Protection Act 1970.
The Greening the Pipeline project, which WyndhamCityCouncil is a partner to, aims to restore the Main Outfall Sewer line, (https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/project/greening-pipeline) which EPA cited as an appropriate beneficiary making a meaningful contribution towards the local community.
OneSteel was also ordered to pay EPA's $15,000 legal costs.
"EPA is increasingly looking to seek restorative justice outcomes that benefit the local community where organisations and individuals have failed to protect the environment and human health. A restorative approach promotes corporate and social responsibility and recognises that the community has a voice within the Courts that will be heard," said EPA Senior Solicitor Muhammad Ersoy
"EPA Victoria has conducted inspections at hundreds of Victorian recycling facilities to educate and improve fire and risk management practices and this outcome will further serve to build awareness within the sector."
