Waste sites in our suburbs are ticking time bombs, warns MFB
Toxic waste dumps in Melbourne’s suburbs are “ticking time bombs” just waiting to erupt in flames, with the MFB warning that chemical infernos are inevitable at some.
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Toxic waste sites are “ticking time bombs” and more blazes are inevitable, Melbourne’s fire brigade has warned.
The MFB has also revealed the huge cost of dealing with the 20 recycling and waste fires over the past two years — and that it expects more.
It has alerted Victoria’s environmental watchdog to five sites that could pose a fire risk.
“MFB has attended a number of fires involving toxic stockpiles, and sadly expects to attend more,’’ the fire service noted in a parliamentary inquiry submission.
“These sites are akin to ‘ticking time bombs’, representing significant risk and insecurity for MFB firefighters and local communities.”
The MFB has raised concern at the cost of responding to toxic stockpiles.
Last August’s blaze at an illegal dump in Tottenham cost the brigade $4.38 million in staff overtime, specialist cleaning, firefighting foam, fuel and other expenses.
Pumping waste water alone cost another agency more than $1 million.
The MFB typically doesn’t use laws allowing it to on-charge attendance costs but says it is now increasingly likely to.
Coupled with April’s huge blaze at Campbellfield waste storage — where up to 280,000 litres of flammable liquid was found — and disposal depot, Bradbury Industrial Services, there has also been a toll on firefighters.
MFB staff made more than 150 reports of exposure-type symptoms at the two fires, including headaches, nosebleeds, stinging eyes, vomiting and chemical tastes in their mouths.
The MFB’s submission stated the spate of fires was putting firefighters at risk.
“Those fires represent examples of market failure and shortcomings, as well as some situations of blatant noncompliance by private industry,’’ it said.
“If change does not occur, it is MFB that must attend any catastrophic fires at toxic stockpiles. It is MFB firefighters (along with other emergency management workers) who must confront health and safety challenges.
“It is MFB that must seek funding for the additional significant costs of these fires when no one else is able to pay for it.”
An Environmental Protection Authority-led task force has inspected 163 recyclable and waste material sites of “very high” interest, and 162 notices and 32 sanctions have been issued.
The five sites the MFB referred had no major issues, and a further 65 sites are to be inspected this year.
MORE: STONY CREEK FLOODED WITH TOXINS
CHEMICAL FIRE AT CAMPBELLFIELD
SKM Recycling, which has five processing sites in Victoria, including Coolaroo where a massive blaze that burned for almost a fortnight in July 2017 led to the task force’s formation, wants state government cash to help the industry deal with a Chinese ban on importing Australian recyclables.
“Currently, all risk sits with the recyclers,’’ it submitted to the parliamentary inquiry.
The inquiry’s report is due in August.
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