As the weather cools and conditions for burn offs in regional areas improve, EPA Victoria is alerting the agricultural sector specifically, not to mix their prunings and felled timber with other forms of waste.
“We issued several reminders last year after receiving reports of farms, orchards and vineyards mixing their legitimate burn off materials with waste like treated timbers, plastics and other common farm waste that should have gone to a licensed landfill or recycling facility,” said EPA regional operations director Martha-Rose Loughnane.
“Disposal of waste by burning is illegal. Common farm waste, like treated pine posts, agricultural plastics, hessian, concrete, metal, waste tyres and mattresses, must be disposed of lawfully and at a place that is licensed to accept it,” she said.
“Everyone has a duty to protect the environment. That means that if we find anyone mixing waste into their legitimate burn off material, EPA can take action, and we can issue fines of more than $9,000 for burning anything other than vegetation-sourced matter like timber and crop stubble,” Ms Loughnane said.
“No smoke is good for you, but smoke from burning farm waste like old tyres and treated timber can lead to harmful effects on human health, particularly for people with asthma or other lung conditions, older people, pregnant women, babies and young children,” she said.
The EPA’s guide on farm waste management is available at: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/iwrg641-1
To report pollution, call EPA’s 24 hour pollution hotline at 1300 372 842 or report online at: epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution
