Statewide Recycling in Stawell could face having its licence suspended if the company doesn’t show how it will meet environmental standards.
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Stawell landfill received a ‘show cause’ letter from the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria requiring Statewide Recycling, is its operator, to show how it will meet standards by the end of July.
In the past two years the EPA has visited Statewide Recycling in Stawell on 15 occasions.
EPA North West manager Scott Pigdon said it had become clear that management practices were not keeping up with EPA’s expectations.
“The local community demands better, so we have written to Statewide Recycling which now has 10 weeks to show how they will meet their licence requirements,” he said.
Dr Pigdon said there were several areas of concern, including a reduction of overfill, progressive rehabilitation, odour, dust and noise from the site.
Concerned residents near Statewide Recycling said these concerns have been going on for a long time.
The residents said many people living on Pomonal Road in Stawell near Statewide Recycling have sold their properties for a lesser value.
If the company does not meet several agreed actions by the end of July, the EPA said it would suspend Statewide Recycling in Stawell’s licence and the company will not accept any waste.
The EPA said regional contingency plans have been put in place to ensure waste will be sent to alternative locations, if the company fails to meet their obligations.
Northern Grampians Shire Council mayor Tony Driscoll said the council understands the EPA and Statewide Recycling are working togther.
“We are not part of the process,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be sorted out before the end of July.”
The operators of the Stawell landfill have been fined on numerous occasions by the EPA, including in 2016 for failing to survey an asbestos cell and for exceeding landfill gas levels.
At the time Dr Pigdon said the EPA expects duty holders to adhere to their licence conditions.
“They are the minimum requirements to meet for their environmental obligations,” he said.
In 2017 Statewide Recycling in Stawell received a $15,000 fine from the EPA for further licence breaches.
EPA North West acting manager Danny Childs said at the time that waste was found exposed in a poorly covered overfill area despite the licence saying at the end of each day waste must be covered.
Statewide Recycling, which has its main office in Warrnambool, did not respond to a request for comment.
