Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined an Echuca man for setting industrial waste on fire on a site not permitted to receive it.
EPA officers visited the Singer Road farm in April after observing a thick, black smoke coming from the premises while driving along the Northern Highway.
Upon inspection, the officers found a dam half filled with industrial waste, including fencing materials, timber pallets, concrete pipes, irrigation piping, plastic drums and tyres on fire.
Following an EPA investigation, the man was fined $1771 for burning the waste. It is an offence under the Environment Protection Act to burn industrial waste.
EPA also issued the company, which operates a farming business from the site, with a clean-up notice requiring it remove all remaining industrial waste from the dam and to dispose of it at a licensed facility.
EPA Acting North West Manager Danny Childs said it was important businesses deposited or recycled industrial waste in accordance with regulations.
‘EPA takes its role as the environmental regulator very seriously and has high expectations when it comes to the management of industrial waste such as in this case being farm waste,’ he said.
‘This incident should serve as notice to all operators that they need to follow appropriate procedures for disposal of waste and ensure they’re adhered to by those working on site.’
Mr Childs encouraged the community to report suspicious activity and/or inappropriately deposited waste to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or by visiting www.epa.vic.gov.au