An unregistered truckload of waste tyres has landed the transporter and a tyre shredding company in trouble with EPA Victoria, sparking $20,000 in fines.
EPA officers were on a routine inspection of the business at Officer when they saw the truck unloading approximately 200 worn-out tyres that had not been registered with EPA’s Waste Tracker system.
Waste Tracker traces loads all the way from the creation of the waste, through transport, processing and recycling or disposal, making sure they are not dumped or stored illegally where the waste becomes pollution or a fire risk.
Braeside-based Vic Tyre Recycling Pty Ltd has been fined $10,176 for transporting the tyres without a waste record, and the company planning to shred them, Clyde Outdoor Timbers Pty Ltd of Officer, will pay $10,176 for accepting waste without a record.
EPA Compliance Programs Manager Alison McRae says Waste Tracker is an effective way of spotting a missing load and identifying the culprit.
“Waste Tracker makes it easy to know who has the load of waste at any stage in its journey. If it suddenly disappears, EPA will know,” Ms McRae said.
“Responsible operators know their waste is going to proper disposal, and criminals find it harder to abandon industrial waste on other people’s land or in stockpiles that have no fire safety measures,” she said.
Creating a Waste Tracker record is mandatory before transporting waste tyres, and EPA conducts random inspections to monitor compliance. Each missing or incomplete Waste Tracker record counts as a separate offence under the Environment Protection Act 2017.
The inspection at Officer found the company storing more tyres than its permitted limit, and EPA issued a prohibition notice requiring Clyde Outdoor Timbers Pty Ltd to stop accepting or shredding waste tyres, and to reconfigure its stockpiles into smaller stacks with sufficient clearance between them to reduce fire risk.
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, both companies have the right to have their fines reviewed or considered by a court. Both applied for an internal review, and the review has upheld both fines. They still have the right to take the case to 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 learn about Waste Tracker on the EPA website epa.vic.gov.au/waste-tracker and there’s information on how to manage waste tyres here epa.vic.gov.au/manage-waste-tyres
