Michaela Meade
A Coolaroo recycling facility has been told by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) to stop accepting any type of combustible recyclable waste material.
The EPA said Phoenix Environmental Group mainly accepts, handles, stores and transports construction and demolition and household waste.
This includes plastic, timber, fabric, cardboard, e-waste, glass, insulation material, bricks, rubble, floc, mattresses, tyres, organic material, and green waste.
During an inspection of the site on Maffra Street in October, the EPA said officers observed waste being stored in a manner that increased the risk of fire.
EPA metropolitan regions director Rachel Gualano said: “Phoenix has been issued an EPA Prohibition Notice telling it not to accept new waste until further notice and by [Wednesday] November 17… they must have reconfigured the stockpiled waste to reduce the risk.
“Through EPA’s Fire Prevention Program we take a zero tolerance approach to any risk that is not properly controlled putting the community and environment at risk.”
In September this year, the EPA charged Phoenix with offences under the Environment Protection Act 1970 for failing to take reasonable steps to maintain adequate fire risk management at its site.
