Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a packaging company $28,000 for breaching the Environment Protection Act 1970 over the storage of waste at an unlicensed site.
EPA issued VIP Steel Packaging four separate Penalty Infringement Notices after an investigation found waste was being stored at an unlicensed site next door to where VIP Steel Packaging operates its licensed site in Normanby Avenue, Sunshine West.
EPA officers found almost 2000 bulk containers at the unlicensed site, and samples taken found they contained liquid chemicals.
The Environment Protection Act 1970 requires businesses that are reprocessing, treating, storing, handling, containing or disposing of waste from other businesses do so with EPA approval.
The fines issued to VIP Steel Packaging were determined by the Environment Protection Act 1970. In this instance, the offence was under Section 27 (1A), which makes it an offence to carry out these activities without EPA approval.
EPA also issued VIP Steel Packaging with a Pollution Abatement Notice requiring it remove all Prescribe Industrial Waste (PIW) from the unlicensed site. The company has since complied with the requirements of the notice.
EPA Metro Manager, Dan Hunt, said storing containers with waste in them at an unlicensed site posed an environmental risk.
“The site was not sealed and the containers were being stored on open earth with no protection of stormwater or land,” he said.
“We require licences to help protect the environment and ensure sites are regulated and we expect companies that are licensed to accept waste to set the best example.
“Not adhering to the regulations could lead to environmental consequences and risks to the community.”