By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The operator of Hampton Park’s tip has been fined following neighbours’ complaints of a bad stench.
Suez Recycling and Recovery was fined nearly $8000 by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) for the escape of odour outside its landfill boundaries.
On inspection in July, EPA officers found areas of exposed waste that were in breach of Suez’s EPA licence.
EPA southern metro manager Marleen Mathias said the waste should have been covered by at least 30 centimetres of soil cover.
Covering was also required to reduce vermin, contaminated stormwater issues, odours and litter impacting on the local environment.
“In this case, waste outside of the active tipping face had clearly not been covered and was exposed when EPA officers inspected the site.”
“This breach was avoidable; Suez Recycling and Recovery is aware of its licence conditions, and in this case correct management and monitoring of exposed litter would have avoided the fine for failing to cover exposed waste.”
EPA would continue to monitor the site to ensure Suez’s compliance, Ms Mathias said.
Suez state general manager Kelvin Sargent said the company “acknowledge” the infringement.
“Our operations have been reviewed and improvements identified have been made and will be continually monitored.
“We constantly strive to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes and we are committed to managing our operations consistent with community expectations.”
In March, Suez had been served an amended EPA Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN) arising from excessive levels of methane gas and carbon at its boundaries.
In 2015, Suez was put on notice for methane levels above the “upper explosive limit”, with a third of its gas extraction wells found to be blocked, too wet, turned off or disconnected or had slow gas flow rates.
Last year, Suez installed 22 perimeter landfill bores in response.
Nearby residents, as close as 100 metres from the tip, have long complained of the tip’s stench, Cr Damien Rosario recently told Star News.
“At its worst, I have to close all my windows,” Cr Rosario said.
“Residents here don’t want to invite people over to their houses because of the smell.
“Thank God someone is taking action.”
The tip has been the subject of three PANs in the past two years and an EPA enforcement action in 2012.
Suez has a planning permit from Casey Council to operate the tip until 2040.
The EPA has advised people to call its Pollution Hotline on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC), if there are ongoing odour issues from the landfill.
Suez also has an “environmental feedback hotline” on 1800 368 737.
