Michaela Meade
An Epping compost facility has been ordered to stop accepting waste until its stockpiles comply with fire safety requirements.
Suez Recycling and Recovery has the contract for Whittlesea council area’s food and garden waste.
Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd said the closure of Suez by the Environment Protection Authority will not have a direct impact on residents.
“Kerbside bins continue to be collected as normal and material is going to nearby recycling facility, Repurpose It, during this time,” Mr Lloyd said.
“Skip bins have been set up at Suez for residents to continue to recycle their… garden, bricks and rubber waste. Council tip vouchers are still accepted.”
EPA northern metropolitan regional manager Jeremy Settle said stockpiles of green waste at Suez’s Epping facility were too big and did not have the necessary separation distances cleared around them.
“Suez… should know its responsibilities,” Mr Settle said.
“There have been several fires on the site in recent years, and the size and separation distance requirements are all about limiting the size of fires and making them easier to extinguish if they occur.”
“EPA takes a zero-tolerance approach to fire risk in the waste and recycling industry and will take all appropriate regulatory action to protect the community and the environment.”
