A Hoppers Crossing business has been fined nearly $20,000 after being caught on a litter enforcement camera ditching 80 tyres by the side of the road in Wyndham.
Wyndham council issued a fine of $9,787 under the Environment Protection Act and the shop was also fined $9,616 by the EPA for failing to use the Waste Tracker app.
Movement of priority waste, which includes tyres, is required to be entered into the app.
It is the EPA’s live-tracking system for ensuring that reportable priority wastes are disposed correctly by businesses at a lawful place, and not illegally dumped in the community.
Wyndham councillor Susan McIntyre said tyre dumping was on the increase and needed to stop.
“We see close to 500 tyres dumped in Wyndham a month and we’re taking a strong position on cracking down on this behaviour,” she said.
“We understand that restrictions introduced by the Australian Government regarding the export of used tyre waste has increased recycling costs and in some instances set minimum tyre collection amounts per a business – but dumping in Wyndham is not the answer to these challenges and we will be working closely with the EPA to deter this behaviour.”
EPA compliance program manager Dan Hunt said this action sends a very clear message to would-be illegal dumpers; getting caught will cost you dearly.
“The fine is one thing, but the clean up costs still have to be met by the business as well.”
He said it was also an important reminder that businesses disposing of tyres or other hazardous wastes must use Waste Tracker app as a requirement of law to ensure they are taken to a lawful place.
