Another fire at site of former recycling giant SKM
Firefighters have battled a blaze at the former site of recycling giant SKM this morning. The fire follows several similar incidents at the Coolaroo plant in the past three years.
VIC News
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Another fire has broken out at an embattled waste recycling site in Melbourne’s north.
Firefighters were called to the Maffra Street address in Coolaroo, the site of former recycling giant SKM’s warehouse, after reports of the blaze.
A spokesperson for the MFB said the flames were quickly brought under control.
“Crews were called to the address just after 8.30am and arrived to find smoke emanating from a waste pile approximately two metres by three metres in size,” the spokesperson said.
“Firefighters quickly knocked the smoke down and got the incident under control within 30 minutes.”
EPA officers are attending a small fire at the former SKM recycling site at Coolaroo.@MFB_NEWS have the fire under control.
— EPA Victoria (@EPA_Victoria) October 17, 2019
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EPA Victoria officers are also attending.
It comes after the statewide business folded in July, leaving 600 workers and 30 councils in the lurch.
Boss Giuseppe “Joe” Italiano — who founded SKM Recycling — told the Sunday Herald Sun at the time that he was the victim of a government witch hunt.
“I’ve put millions of dollars into recycling, which no one else has,” said 76-year-old Mr Italiano.
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“I’ve run out of money to pay for bad management by Daniel Andrews and the rest of them.
“We are closing up next week, I am closing the doors and destroying the machinery.
“Someone is out there playing games to have me closed down.”
The site, which has since been taken over by waste management group Cleanaway, was closed down after the company went into receivership this year.
Fire crews will remain at the Coolaroo site throughout the morning to monitor the situation.