Wyndham Takes Strong Stance Against Rising Dumping Incidents
Wyndham City, in collaboration with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), has taken decisive action against the unlawful disposal of tyres, resulting in fines totalling nearly $20,000.
A business in Hoppers Crossing was captured on a litter enforcement camera discarding 80 tyres alongside a road in Wyndham. Wyndham City imposed a fine of $9,787 under the Environment Protection Act, while the EPA levied an additional $9,616 penalty for the business’s failure to utilize the Waste Tracker App.
The movement of priority waste, such as tires, mandates entry into the Waste Tracker—a live-tracking system employed by the EPA to ensure that businesses dispose of reportable priority wastes properly and legally, rather than resorting to illegal dumping.
Cr Susan McIntyre, Wyndham City’s Community Safety portfolio holder, expressed concern over the escalating issue of tyre dumping, emphasizing the need for intervention. She stated, “We witness close to 500 tyres being dumped in Wyndham each month, and we are taking a firm stance to curb this behaviour.”
McIntyre acknowledged the challenges posed by the Australian Government’s restrictions on the export of used tyre waste, which has led to increased recycling costs and specific collection quotas for businesses. However, she emphasized that illegal dumping in Wyndham is not a viable solution, and collaborative efforts with the EPA will be undertaken to discourage such behaviour.
Dan Hunt, EPA Compliance Program Manager, emphasized the severe consequences for illegal dumpers, emphasizing that the financial penalty is only one aspect—the business is also responsible for covering the cleanup costs. Hunt highlighted the importance of businesses using the Waste Tracker application as a legal requirement to ensure proper disposal.
Hunt cautioned businesses against neglecting their duty to ensure that waste is lawfully disposed of, underscoring that opting for cheaper waste disposal services without meeting regulations could result in significant fines for the waste generator.
Utilizing advanced intelligence, the EPA is intensifying efforts to combat illegal waste movements of reportable priority waste throughout Victoria. Waste transporters are explicitly warned that failure to fulfil legal requirements under the Environment Protection Act, including reporting waste movements through the Waste Tracker application, will lead to consequences.
