Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Braeside company more than $8,000, after tracing shredded plastic found in Mordialloc Creek back through stormwater drains to the source.
EPA Southern Metro Region acting Manager Troy Kraska said the investigation began when Melbourne Water staff reported finding yellow plastic waste in the Mordialloc Settlement Drain and Mordialloc Creek.
“EPA officers found three bales of yellow plastic waste in the drain, and shredded pieces of plastic flowing into the drain from a stormwater pipe,” Mr Kraska said.
“They followed the drain back to the nearby premises of Polymer Processors Pty Ltd in Japaddy Street, and saw the premises contained stockpiles of baled yellow plastic and shredded plastic pieces,” he said.
EPA has issued Polymer Processors Pty Ltd with an $8,060 fine and official notices requiring the clean-up of plastic wastes in the drain and installation of controls at the premises to prevent further loss of plastic wastes into the stormwater system.
The company has now repaired its boundary fence, installed filters and repaired sieves on stormwater drainage pits, and changed its operations to prevent baled and shredded plastics from leaving the premises. It also arranged for the clean-up.
“Litter leaving any premises can enter the stormwater system and flow into creeks and waterways that lead to Port Phillip Bay or the ocean, where it can kill animals, birds or fish when they become tangled or swallow the litter,” Mr Kraska said.
“Plastic litter is worse than most; it can take years, decades or centuries to start to break down, giving it plenty of opportunities to kill more wildlife,” he said.
“The clean-up also prevented impacts to beachgoers by stopping the plastic litter from dispersing further into Port Phillip Bay, where it would have washed up on beaches.”
“EPA expects business and industry to have preventative processes in place to contain litter on their premises, and maintain the condition of their facilities so that litter does not escape into stormwater drains and waterways,” Mr Kraska said.
Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the company has the right to have the decision to issue the infringement notice reviewed or alternatively to have the matter heard and determined by a court.
EPA is now preparing for new legislation to take effect in 2020, that will give it a stronger focus on prevention and substantially increase potential penalties.
The legislation introduces a criminally enforceable General Environmental Duty, a responsibility for anyone whose activities may involve pollution to take reasonable steps to eliminate risk to human health and the environment.
Members of the public can report pollution via EPA’s 24-hour hotline, 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or the EPA website www.epa.vic.gov.au