The first truckload of waste tyres has left the town of Numurkah, beginning an estimated 10 week clean-up of a huge stockpile that will go to a licensed recycling facility in Melbourne.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) used its powers under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to enter the site last Thursday, with the assistance of Moira Shire Council and funding from the Victorian Government.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Wilkinson said EPA, Moira Council and the local community have all been concerned about the stockpile for some time.
“All of the appropriate legal options had to be exhausted before the authorities resorted to enter the site and bringing in contractors to conduct the clean-up,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“The stockpile is estimated to contain half a million waste tyres, summer is here, and a CFA risk assessment concluded any uncontrolled fire at the premises would be catastrophic,” she said.
“With the stockpile right on the edge of the town, the Numurkah community has also been very concerned it has become a sizeable habitat for snakes, rats, feral cats and mosquitoes.”
Fire safety, security and the management of any wildlife and vermin are all parts of the carefully planned clean-up of the site, and a snake catcher and firefighting gear are on site during the clean-up.
The tyres are being trucked to Melbourne for recycling. Shredded tyres can be used in the construction, manufacturing and automotive industries with the end products to include athletics tracks, brake pads, new tyres or road surfaces.
Updates on the progress of the clean-up will be available on the Moira Shire Council website, at: https://www.moira.vic.gov.au/Community/Works-and-Projects/Projects/Numurkah-Tyre-Stockpile
There is more information on the site and the clean-up on the EPA website at https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/current-issues/odour-and-air-quality/numurkah-tyre-stockpile
Members of the public can report abandoned tyre stockpiles and other types of pollution on EPA’s 24-hour hotline: 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).