Wyndham City and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) have cracked down on tyre dumping, with close to $20,000 in fines issued.
A Hoppers Crossing business was caught on a litter enforcement camera ditching 80 tyres by the side of the road in Wyndham.
Wyndham City issued a fine of $9,787 under the Environment Protection Act and the shop was also fined $9,616 by the EPA for failing to use the Waste Tracker App.
Movement of priority waste, which includes tyres, is required to be entered into the Waste Tracker. It is the EPA's live-tracking system for ensuring that reportable priority wastes are disposed correctly by businesses at a lawful place, and not illegally dumped in the community.
Wyndham City’s Community Safety portfolio holder, Cr Susan McIntyre said tyre dumping was on the increase and needed to stop.
“We see close to 500 tyres dumped in Wyndham a month and we’re taking a strong position on cracking down on this behaviour,” she said.
“We understand that restrictions introduced by the Australian Government regarding the export of used tyre waste has increased recycling costs and in some instances set minimum tyre collection amounts per a business – but dumping in Wyndham is not the answer to these challenges and we will be working closely with the EPA to deter this behaviour.”
EPA Compliance program Manager Dan Hunt said: “This action sends a very clear message to would-be illegal dumpers; getting caught will cost you dearly. The fine is one thing, but the clean up costs still have to be met by the business as well.”
"It is also an important reminder that businesses disposing of tyres or other hazardous wastes must use Waste Tracker as a requirement of law to ensure they are taken to a lawful place. If your contracted waste transporter or receiver cannot provide you with an EPA Waste Record, find one who can."
“When you hire waste disposal services you have a duty to ensure your waste is going to a lawful place, and failure to do so may result in you, as the waste generator, receiving a significant fine. Taking a cheap quote could turn out to be expensive if they aren’t meeting the regulations.”
The EPA is using advanced intelligence to crack down on illegal waste movement of reportable priority waste across Victoria and waste transporters are on notice that they will be caught if they fail to fulfil the legal requirements under the Environment Protection Act to report waste movements using the Waste Tracker application.
“Wyndham City and EPA are very vigilant on illegal dumping and the use of Waste Tracker. But if you see pollution, including dumping of waste, call us on 1300 372 842 or report online at www.epa.vic.gov.au”
To help keep Wyndham clean, residents are encouraged to dispose of their waste responsibly by using free services as listed at: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/book-hard-green-waste-collection