Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Ballarat North company more than $7,700 for burning industrial waste that emitted a large plume of black smoke at its Learmonth Street premises on 17 May 2017.
EPA South West Manager Carolyn Francis, said following a public report, an EPA investigation found Scobie’s Service Centre Pty Ltd had burnt industrial waste that included timber pallets, wooden boxes, about 15 empty plastic oil drums and some hoses.
Ms Francis said the company had tried to take a shortcut by burning the waste in a pile that was about five metres by three metres, and its illegal activity has left it more than $7,000 out of pocket as a result..
“Disposing of the material legally through recycling or taking to an appropriate landfill would have cost the company much less than the fine amount,” Ms Francis said.
Ms Francis said businesses that generate waste have a responsibility to the environment and the community to manage waste legally and with minimum impact.
Ms Francis said the company has advised EPA that it has since changed its waste management practices to prevent an incident of this nature occurring again.
Members of the public can report pollution of the environment to the 24-hour EPA pollution hotline, by calling 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC). There’s more information at www.epa.vic.gov.au/get-involved/report-pollution