EPA lifts ban on Coolaroo recycling facility Phoenix Environmental Group

Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority has lifted a ban on a Coolaroo facility accepting combustible recyclable and waste materials — but says they are “disappointed” they had to get involved a third time.

Recyclers Phoenix Environmental Group in Coolaroo were banned from accepting more materials due to fire risk on August 5. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority has lifted a ban on a Coolaroo facility accepting combustible recyclable and waste materials.

Phoenix Environmental Group Pty Ltd was issued with its third ban earlier this month after EPA inspectors found the northern suburbs firm had large stockpiles of waste and recyclable materials that presented significant fire risk that would be hard to extinguish.

The Authority said the company made its stockpiles comply with safety regulations within days of receiving the notice on August 5.

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EPA Resource Recovery Facilities Audit Taskforce project manager Steven Pugh said it was “disappointing” they had to get involved.

“The company clearly had the capacity to bring its stockpiles under control and it is disappointing that EPA had to take such strong action,” he said.

“This is the third time the company’s stockpiles have failed to comply with the Victorian Waste Management Policy.

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“The policy was introduced in August 2017, and includes measures to reduce the fire risks associated with waste and recycling stockpiles.

“The message to the recycling and waste industries is that the regulations are there to protect the environment and the community, and they will be enforced.”

The company faced a fine of up to $49,566 if it failed to comply.

The firm was issued with the same ban on April 1 this year.

The Maffra Street business processes construction and demolition waste, including timber, plasterboard, foam, insulation, cardboard, plastic and metals, with the EPA notice preventing it from receiving any new materials to the site.

It was allowed it to continue processing materials to reduce the size of its stockpiles.

The notice was issued when loose stockpiles of combustible recyclable waste material were found without the required separation distances between stockpiles and buildings or property boundaries.

EPA taskforce manager Danny Childs said the size and contents of the stockpiles, inadequate separation distances and the potential sources of ignition increased the fire risks dramatically.

“Burning plastics, foam and polystyrene would create toxic gases and a great deal of smoke, and fire water run-off could contaminate local waterways,” he said.

The EPA said they were undertaking further investigations of the company to determine if any breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970 had occurred.

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