Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is reminding people to be aware of their obligations around waste disposal after it fined a Heathcote man more than $1700 for depositing and burning industrial waste at a site without the appropriate licence.
EPA Acting North West Manager Danny Childs said officers visited the site, located on Crown land in Heathcote, after receiving a call from a concerned City of Greater Bendigo officer.
“EPA officers found waste at the site, which included steel, car parts, mattresses, fridges, iron, steel drums and other various items deposited across a large area near a waterway,” Mr Childs said.
“There was also a large smouldering ash pile that contained partially burnt waste, which, according to the site occupier, had been building in size over three years.
“This timeframe is obviously of real concern as the potential to harm the environment, including the nearby creek, is very real.”
“The site has now been cleaned up following an earlier notice issued to the man in October and we are satisfied that it has been complied with.”
Mr Childs said part of EPA’s role was to increase awareness of how to prevent pollution and how to appropriately dispose of any waste generated.
“People can learn how to correctly dispose of waste by visiting the EPA website, which has advice on their legal environmental obligations,” Mr Childs said.
EPA encourages members of the public to continue to report suspected pollution of the environment on 1300 372 842.