Recycle, not burn rubbish

A concrete cutter that made a decision to burn cardboard boxes instead of recycling them has proved costly for his organisation, his neighbour and the environment.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) fined the concrete cutter more than $8,000 after a fire in July of this year had spread to the neighbouring property and burnt one car, damaged two others, ignited 80 litres of waste oil and melted some wheelie bins.

EPA South West Manager Carolyn Francis said it was disappointing that businesses were still not getting the message to not burn industrial waste.

Burning industrial waste can pollute waterways, harm land and impact the air quality.

Please note that the new EPA Act, which takes effect on 1 July 2020, will include a new General Environmental Duty that requires those who conduct activities that pose a risk to human health and the environment to take reasonable steps to eliminate or reduce those risks.

The AEBN will hold briefings in 2019 ahead of the changes, to help members to be more proactive in preventing harm from pollution and waste.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the concrete cutter has the right to have the $8,060 fine for discarding of industrial waste by burning reviewed or have the matter determined by a court.