Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Benalla Rural City Council more than $7500 for failing to comply with their landfill licence.
The council failed to ensure waste accepted at the Benalla Resource and Recovery Centre on Old Farnley Road, was placed in designated areas as required by their EPA licence.
EPA North East Manager, Clare Kiely said an EPA inspection in December last year picked up on the breach after officers discovered waste was being placed outside containment areas.
“Following this, EPA issued council with a Pollution Abatement Notice requiring waste only be accepted and disposed of at the premises in accordance with its EPA licence or be diverted to an alternative landfill with available space.”
“EPA considers any breach of a licence it administers very seriously and as a result, it has also fined the council $7584 for breaching their licence.”
“The landfill’s licence says council must ensure waste is placed in designated areas and not just anywhere on the property.”
“EPA licences certain activities that are known to cause or have the potential to cause pollution, such as depositing waste material, and are in place to reduce any impact on the environment and protect the community.”