Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has used its drone to capture footage of a licence breach at a Bulla landfill that has led to B.T.Q Group being fined more than $7,700.
EPA Metro Manager Daniel Hunt said the drone had captured photographs and video footage of extensive areas of exposed waste at the end of operations for the day at the landfill.
“Under its licence, B.T.Q Group is required to put at least 30 centimetres of soil cover on exposed waste to prevent it being blown about by the elements and leaving the property,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said EPA officers had used the drone as part of a landfill compliance surveillance program at the site on 17 January 2017.
“The footage captured clearly shows multiple operational areas on the premises with visible waste such as plastic, concrete, steel and wood, that indicates that it has not been adequately covered at the end of operations for the day as required under its EPA licence,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said it is was important that cover was applied daily to all waste material to reduce odour, vermin, contaminated stormwater and litter impacting on the local environment.
“This breach of the company’s EPA licence was avoidable; B.T.Q Group is well aware of its licence obligations, and in this case correct management and monitoring of exposed litter would have avoided the fine being handed down,” Mr Hunt said.
Mr Hunt said EPA would continue to hold landfill operators to account with its regulatory requirements through further landfill compliance surveillance programs.
Mr Hunt said EPA had also served B.T.Q Group with an Official Warning in January this year when it allowed dust to leave its premises, which was another breach of its EPA licence requirements.
EPA urges members of the public to continue reporting suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au