A Broadmeadows man has been fined more than $2000 by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) for burning industrial waste at a Balliang East property.
EPA southwest regional manager Martha-Rose Loughnane said it is illegal to dump, burn or bury industrial waste on a rural property.
“It contaminates the air with smoke, the land with the burnt waste and nearby waterways with runoff,” Ms Loughnane said.
The offender set more than 1000 litres of green waste and construction waste on fire, which was then reported by a member of the public.
EPA officers inspected the property in October 2025, and found a large blazing fire pit burning timber, plastic and plaster.
EPA fined the man who had leased the property $2035 for depositing waste by burning.
The man was also issued an environment action notice which requires him to not accept or burn any waste, and clean up any stockpile waste left on the site.
Ms Loughnane said a company committing the same offence could be fined more than $10,000.
“Larger offences can be taken to court, with potential penalties in the millions.”
According to EPA there is a trend of industrial waste being transported from the city to a country property for illegal disposal.
“It’s illegal, and any Victorian with a mobile phone can photograph it and report it to EPA in a matter of minutes.”
In this case, the waste came from a residential demolition site in George Street, Reservoir.
You can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
