A HORSHAM firm collecting waste tyres in Inglewood, Charlton and St Arnaud has been slapped with nearly $20,000 in fines from EPA Victoria.
The two fines of $9,880 each are for failing to account for truckloads of waste tyres on EPA’s online Waste Tracker system. EPA north-west regional manager Paul Ratajczyk said the offence was not just a failure of paperwork.
“In Victoria, waste tyres are classified as a ‘reportable priority waste’ and must be tracked by the EPA Waste Tracker online system when transported from one site to another,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
“Waste Tracker traces waste through every step from the place that created it, to the transport business, to the end user or disposal facility. If there’s a gap in the trail, EPA will know where,” he said.
“The system is designed to prevent waste from just vanishing into thin air. EPA will know exactly who had it last,” Mr Ratajczyk said.
Waste tyres can damage the environment if they are illegally dumped or burnt. Degrading tyres can contaminate the soil or become havens for weeds and pests. Tyre fires generate toxic smoke and are difficult to extinguish.
EPA issued Horsham company Affordable Scrap Tyre Solutions Pty Ltd with the two fines for failing to record loads in October 2024.