Melbourne businesses suspected of illegally transporting or storing waste tyres, including those in Casey, will be the subject of a series of snap Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria inspections throughout May and June.
EPA will be targeting businesses identified through the EPA Waste Tracker system as potentially non-compliant with their tracking obligations.
EPA metropolitan Melbourne regional director Rachel Gualano said waste tyres are classified as a ‘Reportable Priority Waste’ and must be tracked by the EPA Waste Tracker system when transported from one site to another within Victoria.
“EPA Waste Tracker tracks waste through every step of its journey; from the generator, to the transporter through to the end user or disposal point,” she said.
“If there’s a gap in the Waste Tracker trail, EPA can see it and use that intel to pinpoint where along that journey the trail breaks, which is how we have a good understanding of which businesses to prioritise in the upcoming waste tyre inspection program.
“Waste Tracker is an important tool in preventing hidden waste crime, by ensuring that high-risk wastes are transported to permissioned facilities that have controls to manage those wastes safely and effectively.”
Ms Gualano said EPA will take further regulatory action if they find businesses which are not being compliant.
“EPA has cleaned up several tyre stockpiles over the years, but it’s at a cost to the community when it should be the responsibility of the person or business that took in the tyres in the first place,” she said.
“Our inspection campaign will enforce the use of Waste Tracker as a compulsory system for the transport of reportable priority waste.”
Tyre stockpiles are a hazard to the Victorian community and environment as they can lead to fires which are difficult to control.
Tyre fires generate hazardous smoke, which can cause a health risk via the inhalation of particles and chemicals.
For more information on rules and regulations around disposing of waste tyres, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/manage-industrial-waste/waste-tyres.
