Community raise health concerns for Container Deposit Scheme site flagged for Tottenham in City of Maribyrnong

Trucks carrying more than 100 tonnes of recycling will move through Melbourne’s inner west from dawn until late at night every day, raising health and safety concerns.

Residents in Melbourne’s west are kicking up a stink over a recycling centre that will accommodate trucks carting waste up to 19 hours a day.

Victoria’s container deposit scheme (CDS) will roll out in November, as the state government seeks to establish a circular economy and boost recycling in line with other states.

A major collection site is being built in Tottenham that can process up to 700 tonnes of material daily and see an influx of trucks travelling near corridors subject to curfews due to pollution and health concerns.

Cleanaway, in a joint venture with TOMRA, plans to build two warehouses to collect and sort material for the CDS at its Tottenham site.

The Tottenham CDS site will process up to 20 tonnes from over 400 sites across the west. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Maribyrnong City Council last year approved a planning permit for Cleanaway to rebuild its site as a transfer depot but an operational permit was yet to be considered.

It comes as the council awarded a $4.5m contract to Cleanaway for recycling services over the next five years.

According to planning documents, a ‘skeleton’ crew will work between 4am to 11pm weekdays and from 6am to 9pm on weekends to handle truck deliveries.

A number of deposit sites are popping up across the state, including this one outside West Gate Fitness in Altona North. Picture: Nilsson Jones

The facility is expected to increase truck movement in the area by between 54 to 63 vehicles every day, with a ‘peak period’ planned between 11am and 2pm to minimise congestion.

Two weighbridges will be installed to accommodate B-double trucks.

The EPA last week received a development licence application and has given affected persons until September 7 to raise concerns.

The Tottenham CDS site was approved for a rebuild but is awaiting operation approval from Maribyrnong council and the EPA. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Yarraville resident Glen Yates believed most of the community was completely unaware of the project and was disappointed in the lack of engagement by Cleanaway and the council.

“Locals will see a significant increase in truck movements everyday of the week by Cleanaway, and that’s not including trucks that will collect recycled bundles on pallets to be then moved to processing depots,” Mr Yates said.

“Although Cleanaway has committed to their trucks being Euro V standard or low emission, there is no guarantee that third parties collecting from the depot will, which could potentially add to the existing poor air quality the inner west endures.

“Given these containers will be used, there is concern about the odour that could come from the depot and what this could mean for Stoney Creek which has had a very difficult time over the past few years from major warehouse fires through to illegal dumping.

Mr Yates said given the City of Maribyrnong declared a health emergency earlier this year it was “the perfect time” to openly communicate about such projects.

“Instead the council has chosen to quote clauses and chosen not to build awareness and bring us along the journey.”

Yarraville resident Glen Yates has concerns about the Tottenham CDS site will process up to 20 tonnes of bottles as part of a circular economy and will source material from 180 sites across the northwest. Picture: Nilsson Jones

He said while the near complete site was in an industrial zone, there were concerns for the impact on Yarraville and West Footscray residents within a 700m radius and five schools within 2km of the site.

He is only aware of five residents who attended community webinars, and said two sessions were cancelled due to nil attendance.

Mr Yates said while he supports establishing of the CDS scheme in Victoria, his concern was about unforeseen impacts on locals and a lack of consultation by the relevant bodies.

Maribyrnong chief executive Celia Haddock said the facility would be part of efforts to transform Victoria’s waste and recycling system, which the council supported both locally and across the state.

“Council will undertake a thorough assessment of the application against the relevant provisions of the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme,” Ms Haddock said.

“Individual truck operators and drivers should be aware of and ensure they comply with all road rules including truck curfews which are implemented and enforced by the Department of Transport and Planning.”

The Tottenham CDS site will process up to 20 tonnes of bottles as part of a circular economy and will source material from 180 sites across the northwest including one deposit site at West Gate Fitness, Altona North. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Ms Haddock cited the state level provision in the council’s planning scheme which outlined that transfer stations in association with the CDS are exempt from requiring public notice, provided the land is located in an industrial zone and does not abut a residential zone.

“The site will however require a license from the EPA,” she said.

According to the joint venture, the depot will process containers from about over 400 sites across Melbourne’s west in Zone 4 (Metropolitan West) and a portion of Zone 1 (Barwon South-West and Grampians).

Just five of the sites will be located within the City of Maribyrnong.

Visy and Return-It were awarded the contracts for the north and east regions respectively.

Cleanaway was contacted but our questions were redirected to the state government’s environmental department.

The state government has been contacted for comment.