Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Visy Industries Australia Pty Ltd more than $7,500 for exceeding the amount of chemicals it is allowed to emit from its Campbellfield site into the atmosphere.
EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said the amount of dioxins and furans (classified as carcinogens generated from burning activities) discharged from the site’s stacks was above the limit allowed in the company’s EPA licence.
“As this was a minor exceedance of the company’s licence limit, and was contained to the site, the risk to the local environment and community was considered low,” Mr Hunt said.
“However, EPA licence holders have obligations to maintain their facilities to operate within EPA’s licence conditions. Conditions on an EPA licence are there to regulate industries’ impact on the environment and to protect the community.
“This breach was avoidable; Visy is well aware of its licence conditions, and in this case correct management and monitoring of its stacks would have avoided the fine for exceeding its discharge limits.”
Mr Hunt said EPA officers would conduct an additional inspection of the site to assess that the company was complying with its licence conditions.
“Further failure by the company to comply with this licence requirement could see it fined up to $777,300 if prosecuted before the courts,” Mr Hunt said.
“An EPA notice has also been issued to the company that require it to develop a plan that details works it will undertake to control emission levels at the site.”
EPA encourages members of the public to report suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au