Coolaroo blaze: Industry expert calls giant recycling stockpile an ‘absolute disgrace’
A GIANT stockpile of recycling that caught alight at a Coolaroo factory and forced residents to evacuate would be illegal in neighbouring states, a peak industry council says.
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- This week: Firefighters called to SMK Recycling twice in 12 hours
- June 2017: Fire crews battle recycling factory blaze
- February 2017: Factory fire at Coolaroo
A GIANT stockpile of waste that caught alight at a recycling factory would be illegal in neighbouring states, a peak industry council says.
A four-year-old girl was among four people taken to hospital suffering effects from smoke after the SKM Recycling factory in Coolaroo set ablaze, while 15 people were assessed by paramedics Friday.
More than 150 homes in Dallas were evacuated but residents were told they could return to their homes Friday.
Industry experts have expressed alarm at the size of the huge stockpile, which set alight on Thursday for the fourth time since February.
The Australian Council of Recycling chief executive Grant Musgrove said stronger laws in NSW and SA prevented stockpiles of the same magnitude.
“Victoria is way behind its counterpart states,” he said.
“A stockpile like this that is allowed to accumulate is a massive risk to human health and business in Victoria.
“It is an absolute disgrace.”
A former SKM Recycling worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald Sun he quit the plant over safety fears last year.
“It seemed like corners were being cut to save money and I ended up leaving after a month as a result,” he said.
Anxious families in Broadmeadows and Dallas were concerned over toxic fumes near their homes as firefighters enter their third day battling the blaze on Saturday.
Ozlem Ugur, an asthmatic who is also pregnant, said she had been shocked by the smell of smoke while visiting her father.
“It’s no good to see it happening so often when you have homes nearby,” she said.
Dallas resident Taseen Mollah said the air around his home had been difficult to breathe.
“The air quality was absolutely terrible,” he said.
“We were just worried about the children as well particularly those with asthma.”
Data from the Environment Protection Authority showed very poor air quality for most of the day Friday before a wind change.
It was the worst possible rating for air quality, with potential health concerns for those exposed for extended periods of time.
Meanwhile, a vital air monitoring device that informs authorities when to evacuate residents was stolen from behind the Coolaroo Hotel about 4.30pm on Friday.
The AreaRAC equipment detects smoke particles and carbon monoxide.
Firefighters would remain on the scene past the weekend.
“We’ve contained the fire but we’re not getting it under control because of the weather prediction,” MFB acting deputy chief officer Ken Brown said.
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Victorian Waste Management Association chief executive Peter Anderson said there was no limit on how large a stockpile could grow in Victoria.
He called for greater support for the recycling industry to prevent stockpiles across the state from becoming “as big as they have”.
SKM Recycling refused to comment.
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