EPA fines SKM Recycling $16,000 over breaches which forced shutdown

The state’s environmental watchdog has hit SKM Recycling with fines of more than $16,000 over breaches which forced the shutdown of the company’s Coolaroo and Laverton North waste collection sites.

The state’s environmental watchdog has hit SKM Recycling with fines of more than $16,000 over breaches which forced the shutdown of the company’s Coolaroo and Laverton North waste collection sites.

The Environment Protection Authority had ordered the company in January to modify its stockpiles of combustible recyclable and waste materials.

SKM failed to comply with the order, prompting the EPA to order SKM to stop accepting further waste until it complied with the original order.

EPA SHUTS DOWN RECYCLING PLANT

RUBBISH DUMPED IN LANDFILL

END FOR RECYCLING DUMPED IN LANDFILL

SKM recycling plant at Laverton North. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The ban meant that kerbside collections of recyclable waste by several councils was being

dumped into landfill for weeks.

EPA taskforce manager Danny Childs said inspections at Coolaroo and Laverton North sites on January 8 discovered that both sites were non-compliant.

“Stockpiles of waste material were stored in baled and loose stockpiles of combustible recyclable and waste material without appropriate separation distances between stockpiles, buildings, or the premises boundary,’’ Mr Childs said.

SKM closed two recycling plants. Picture: David Caird

“This would have posed a significant challenge for fire authorities if ignited and would have spread rapidly.’’

The sites were not found to be compliant until two months later, the Laverton North site on March 12 and Coolaroo nine days later.

“For SKM to not comply with a notice issued by EPA shows disrespect to the law, the community and our environment,’’ Mr Childs said.

The Coolaroo base was the site of a major fire in July 2017 which took many days to contain and created a pall of smoke across the city.

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