EPA Victoria has booked a Melbourne tyre recycler for the second time in a few weeks, fining it another $9,880 for inadequate records of its stockpiles of waste tyres and shredded material.
EPA Northern Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett says proper record keeping stops combustible waste from being lost and turning up as pollution, or leaving unexpected extra hazards for firefighters if there's a fire.
"Waste Tyre Recylers Pty Ltd - trading as Scrap Tyre Recyclers - hasn't kept adequate records of the waste tyres and shredded tyre material at its locations, first at Derrimut and this time on Box Forest Rd, Glenroy," Ms Bernett said.
"Combustible waste creates the risk of pollution and fire. Victorian regulations aim to prevent stockpiles being too big, too close together, or too close to drains, buildings and the property boundary," she said.
"Meeting the regulations means limiting how much waste can escape the property, wind up in stormwater drains or waterways, or catch fire."
"And keeping proper records is about knowing what you have and where it is; you can't just keep flammable waste in big piles and hope it will all be OK," Ms Bernett said.
Waste Tyre Recylers receives, stores and shreds waste tyres for export. EPA officers estimated the Glenroy stockpile to be the equivalent of more than 2,500 passenger vehicle tyres.
The company operates under an EPA permission with strict conditions, including the requirement to make and retain waste inventory records. Failure to have those records is a breach of the Environment Protection Act 2017.
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
EPA's media release covering the earlier fine is on the EPA website epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/news-media-and-updates/media-releases-and-news/plenty-of-tyres-not-enough-records
