End in sight for recycling being dumped in landfill

Councils are hoping they will no longer have to send recyclable waste to landfill, as one of Melbourne’s major recyclers aims to resume operations.

An end appears to be in sight for Victorian councils dumping their recyclable waste into landfill as one of Melbourne’s major recyclers aims to resume operations soon.

SKM Recycling was ordered by the Environment Protection Authority to stop receiving waste at its Laverton and Coolaroo sites last month over fears of stockpiled material catching fire.

CHARGES OVER STOCKPILE FIRE

RUBBISH DUMPED IN LANDFILL

COUNCIL FINDS RECYCLING ALTERNATIVE

Some councils have now been told that at least one of the sites could re-open this week.

The resumption of deliveries, once signed off by the EPA, would ease the burden on the estimated 20 municipalities statewide which have seen thousands of tonnes of kerbside recycling collections unloaded into landfill.

The SKM recycling plant in Laverton has been prevented from accepting recyclable waste. Picture: David Caird

SKM, which receives 50 per cent of Victoria’s kerbside recycling, was unavailable for comment.

Last week the EPA charged SKM Recycling and its director over a massive blaze in July 2017 at its Coolaroo site.

The latest moves come as the City of Melbourne confirmed it had redirected about 500 tonnes of recyclable rubbish into landfill.

The cost of the diverted dumping had yet to be determined, a council spokeswoman said.

“At present we are focused on working to ensure we can recommence processing of our municipality’s recycling as soon as possible.’’

Melbourne is among many councils with SKM contracts which have been scrambling to find an alternative destination for their recycling waste since the EPA order on February 14.

SKM and a director have been charged over a fire at Coolaroo in 2017. Picture: David Caird

Other councils affected by the SKM closure include Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Greater Geelong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Whittlesea.

Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross said his inner-south council had diverted about 584 tonnes of rubbish to landfill since February 18, at a cost of $70,099.

“We have been advised by the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group, which manages our recycling contract with SKM, that SKM hopes to reopen its Laverton plant soon, possibly this week,’’ Cr Gross said.

Ballarat council’s environment director Terry Demeo said SKM, pending EPA sign-off, hoped to receive the city’s recycling materials this week.

“The City of Ballarat is currently stockpiling its recycling in enclosed facilities, in compliance with the EPA regulations,’’ Mr Demeo said.

But the city had limited stockpile capacity and would seek alternatives if SKM was not operating again in coming days, he said.

Councils which have contracts with Visy and are not affected by the latest problem include Banyule, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moreland, Yarra Ranges, Whitehorse and Wyndham.

Greater Dandenong and Frankston councils were still recycling their rubbish via their contractor Polytrade.

Bayside, Glen Eira, Monash, Moonee Valley and Yarra are also not currently affected.

The state’s councils and the waste recovery industry are still seeking a long-term alternative solution to the ban by China on importing recyclable materials from Victoria.

@IanRoyall