Recyclables stored at tip

Werribee Tip (file pic). Photo by Damjan Janevski.

By Alesha Capone

Wyndham council is storing recyclables from kerbside collections at the Werribee tip after recycling firm SKM Services was ordered to shut down two of its sites.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) last week ordered SKM Services to stop accepting recyclable material at its Coolaroo and Laverton North plants because of concerns that stockpiled waste posed a “significant” fire risk.
Wyndham council is one of several councils from across the state affected by the closure.

The council’s director of city operations, Stephen Thorpe, said: “Wyndham City is directly affected by the EPA notice as our kerbside recyclables go to SKM’s Laverton (North) facility.”

He said that the council did not know when the Laverton North facility could re-open.

“In the interim, we are storing our recyclables at our Refuse Disposal Facility, to be sent to SKM once the facility reopens,” Mr Thorpe said.