Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Stanhope company Biomix Pty Ltd more than $7,500 for illegally burning compost waste at its Two Tree Road premises.
EPA North West Manager Scott Pigdon said a report from a member of the public to EPA’s pollution hotline over the Easter period triggered an investigation, which led to the fine being handed down.
“When EPA officers attended the site they found a compost heap that was clearly on fire and smoke was observed. This is a clear breach of the site’s EPA licence, which states the company must ensure no waste is burnt at the premises,” Dr Pigdon said.
Dr Pigdon said the company had also failed to inform EPA of the fire in a timely manner, which was a further breach of its EPA licence.
“The company’s licence clearly stipulates that it must immediately notify EPA of any non-compliance activities that occur at its site. It’s very disappointing that this hasn’t occurred and that it required a member of the public that was being impacted by the smoke to call EPA,” Dr Pigdon said.
Dr Pigdon said that the while the risk of a fire occurring at a composting facility was always possible, there were standard practices that should occur to prevent them happening.
“The composting industry is well aware of the potential for material to combust but there are certainly procedures that should be undertaken to identify ‘hotspots’ and to stop fires from occurring,” Dr Pigdon said.
“The company in this instance should have been monitoring closely the temperature of this compost heap to ensure the level of combustion risk was reduced. It has failed to adequately do this, and EPA has fined the company as a result.”
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