Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a West Wimmera man more than $5000 after an investigation found he illegally dumped demolition waste, including asbestos, at three properties.
EPA North West Manager Danny Childs said the man was issued with three penalty infringement notices last week, totalling $5,460, for illegally dumping the waste at three separate farmland properties in the West Wimmera region.
“The waste has come from three buildings located on the properties, that were burnt, demolished and then buried on site,” he said.
“EPA has also issued the man with three clean up notices requiring the removal of all demolition waste and asbestos from the three sites.”
Mr Childs said EPA launched its investigation following an anonymous pollution report from a member of the public in November last year.
He said EPA was ramping up its campaign against illegal waste disposal to reduce the 350,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste dumped in Victoria every year.
“In 2014/15, EPA issued 129 remedial notices relating to illegal dumping - 70% of these notices involved the dumping of construction and demolition wastes such as concrete, asbestos, timber and bricks.”
Construction and demolition type waste is classified as Industrial Waste under the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Resource) Regulations 2009. This material can only be disposed of at sites permitted or licensed to accept it.
Landowners can learn how to correctly dispose of waste by visiting the EPA website, which has advice on their legal environmental obligations.
EPA urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to the EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au