Debris removal works have started at a chemical processing facility in Campbellfield, destroyed by fire in April 2019.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria started the next phase of the clean-up at the Bradbury Industrial Services facility in Thornycroft Street this week.
The clean-up is expected to take about six months to complete.
EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said the site had been a busy chemical processing facility, but “became one of the worst industrial fires the state has seen”.
“EPA took immediate action to ensure there would be no off site contamination impacts once the site was handed back by emergency services to the owners,” Mr Miezis said.
“However, when the owners were unable to comply with EPA notices, we used our powers to intervene to cause a clean-up of the site.
“Now, with our principal contractor Symal Infrastructure, we will start the lengthy and complex process of safely removing the waste, recycling what can be recycled and appropriately disposing of anything that cannot.”
Mr Miezis said recovery of the multi-million dollar clean-up bill was the subject of discussions with Bradbury administrators.
He confirmed the EPA policy now reflects a zero tolerance approach to poor fire risk practices at recycling and treatment facilities.
EPA laid charges against Bradbury on March 16, 2020 for various alleged breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
The matters are now before the court.
