By Esther Lauaki
Trouble-plagued recycler SKM Services has been ordered to stop accepting recyclables at its Laverton North site for the second time in three months.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) shut down operations at the company’s Cooleroo and Laverton North sites in March forcing councils to send recyclable waste to the tip.
The latest notices were issued to the company last week following a fire that broke out at one of its Gilbertson Road warehouses on Monday, in what is at least the 10th major factory fire at a waste facility since October last year.
The company will still be able to process waste at its Laverton North site while the notice is in place, but will not be able to receive any new materials until the EPA is satisfied that it is compliant.
EPA chief Paul Stacchino said SKM Services failed to bring its outdoor stockpiles at the two sites into compliance with the Victorian Waste Management Policy by July 3 – instead allowing them to grow.
“The EPA has taken this action to reduce any potential risks to human health and the environment posed by stockpiles of recyclable waste materials at the site,” Mr Stacchino said.
“It has been almost two years since the Victorian Waste Management Policy was introduced, which in EPA’s view has given industry ample time to modify business practices to ensure ongoing compliance with its requirements.
“The notices did not prevent SKM from receiving combustible recyclable waste materials at the sites.”
He said the company requested two extensions to those notices and SKM Services must be compliant by July 17.
Mr Stacchino said the EPA granted the extensions with strict conditions.
More than 60 inspections across the two sites were carried out this year.
