Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined Suez Recycling and Recovery P/L nearly $8000 for breaching a licence condition at its Hallam Road, Hampton Park landfill.
EPA Southern Metro Manager Marleen Mathias said EPA officers inspected the site in July following odour reports from the public to ensure the operation of the landfill was compliant with the requirements of its EPA licence.
“Once onsite EPA officers observed areas of exposed waste that should have had at least 30 centimetres of soil cover to prevent litter being blown about by the elements and any odour leaving the property and impacting on the local community,” Ms Mathias said.
“Under its EPA licence the operator is required to ensure that waste in all active cells must be covered at all times apart from the active tipping face. The operator is also required to ensure that all waste is covered at the end of each operational day. In this case waste outside of the active tipping face had clearly not been covered and was exposed when EPA officers inspected the site.”
Ms Mathias said it is was important that cover was applied to waste material to reduce vermin, contaminated stormwater issues and litter impacting on the local environment.
“This breach was avoidable; Suez Recycling and Recovery is aware of its licence conditions, and in this case correct management and monitoring of exposed litter would have avoided the fine for failing to cover exposed waste,” Ms Mathias said.
Ms Mathias said EPA will continue to monitor the site to ensure Suez Recycling and Recovery meets its ongoing licence obligations.
“Where appropriate EPA will provide compliance advice and will take the necessary action for any non-compliance matters in line with EPA’s Compliance & Enforcement Policy,” Ms Mathias said.
Ms Mathias said if anyone experiences odour issues in the Hampton area, they were encouraged to call EPA’s Pollution Hotline on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).