EPA shuts down allegedly illegal Scottsdale skip bin company Gerke Waste Management

The Environment Protection Authority believes the skip bin company has been running for years and allege it’s been doing so illegally.

Generic skip bin image.

The Environment Protection Authority has shutdown an allegedly illegal skip bin business, Gerke Waste Management, that was operating at a Scottsdale property.

The authority says investigations identified the disposal of waste material had been undertaken at the property with allegedly no relevant authorities in place from either the council or the EPA.

They allege the unlawful disposal appears to have been happening for many years.

EPA director and chief executive Wes Ford said the business was served an Environment Protection Notice on Tuesday, which required the disposal of waste at the property to cease.

EPA CEO Wes Ford.

He said it also required the business not to disturb the waste that had already been deposited.

“In addition to stopping an unauthorised activity, the EPN will also provide for the EPA to undertake a detailed investigation into what has been deposited at the site,” Mr Ford said.

“The unlawful disposal of waste material has the potential to cause significant environmental and public health impacts.

“Gerke Waste Management will have the option of finding authorised facilities to take their skip bins, and by serving the EPN the EPA has taken swift action to stop further unlawful activity while the investigation is underway.”

Litter Abatement Notices can be issued when illegal dumping offenders are identified, which require the offender to clean up the rubbish at their own cost.

“Skip bin users can reasonably expect their waste to be lawfully disposed of and the EPA encourages businesses that use these services to ensure the waste contractors they deal with hold the relevant approvals and take their waste to authorised facilities,” he said.

Illegal dumping can be reported by calling the EPA on 1800 005 171 or by visiting rubbish.epa.tas.gov.au

Originally published as EPA shuts down allegedly illegal Scottsdale skip bin company Gerke Waste Management