Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has handed out more than $10,000 in fines in the past month for illegally burning waste, including a North Geelong company.
Bin hire and waste recycling company NC Waste Management Pty Ltd received a $2035 fine for illegally burning construction and demolition waste in the first week of September.
EPA South West regional manager Martha-Rose Loughnane said burning waste polluted the air with smoke and contaminated soil and waterways.
“If you have accumulated combustible material and it can’t be recycled, you must take it to an EPA-licensed facility,” she said.
“This time of year, we always receive more reports of burning because of winter stockpiling of waste and the impending summer fire restrictions.”
Ms Loughnane said fines and clean-up costs after an illegal burn could be far more than the price of a proper disposal.
“If we attend a site where you’ve added waste to the fire, you can expect a fine and potentially, a requirement to clean up if the fire has contaminated the surrounding environment,” she said.
“Having a permit to burn green waste does not permit you to burn construction and demolition waste, which can be full of chemically treated materials that give off toxic smoke when added to a fire.”
People can report illegal burning by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline at 1300 372 842 or visiting epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution to provide details.
