A drone has helped the Environment Protection Authority catch a Wollert landfill operator breaching the conditions of its licence.
EPA investigators recently used a drone to conduct an after-hours inspection at Hanson Landfill Services’ Wollert tip and found areas of waste had been left uncovered.
EPA metro region manager Jeremy Settle said landfill licence conditions require waste to be covered with at least 30 centimetres of soil at the end of the day. Hanson Landfill Services was fined $7939 by the EPA for breaching its licence conditions.
Mr Settle said the camera-equipped drone discovered multiple operational areas at the Bridge Inn Road tip with uncovered waste, including plastic, metal and wood on the surface.
“Covering any exposed waste at the end of each day greatly reduces odour or litter being blown about by the elements and finding its way onto roads and impacting nearby properties,” he said. “Covering the waste also greatly reduces the potential for contaminated run-off entering storm water drains and waterways when it rains.”
Mr Settle said the EPA would monitor the landfill to ensure compliance with all conditions of its licence.
“EPA licence holders are expected to take their environmental responsibilities seriously. The licence conditions are designed to ensure the landfill is managed in a way that minimised any impacts on surrounding environment and the community,” he said.
Hanson Landfill Services recently applied to Whittlesea council to alter the tip’s permit to allow it to operate 24-hours a day.
The change would allow the tip to accept commercial waste during off-peak hours.
The application also seeks permission for a transfer station, new access to Bridge Inn Road and revised layout plans.
A decision has yet to be made on the application.
