EPA Victoria is targeting dodgy practices and unregistered operators in the skip bin industry in its ongoing statewide crackdown on illegally dumped waste on roadsides, creeks and parks.
EPA's Skip Bin Rapid Compliance Campaign targets businesses linked to suspected waste offending, poor waste management practices or unusually rapid growth.
Our Illegal Waste Dumping Taskforce is designed to stop dumping and ensure skip bin operators can account for where their customers' waste ends up.
To date the inspections have targeted 24 local government areas and involved skip bin yards registered with EPA.
Almost 60 percent of operators inspected during the targeted blitz were found to be operating without the correct registration and one in four operators could not produce paperwork to prove their waste went to the right facilities.
EPA Executive Director Operations, Rachel Gualano, called on businesses and households hiring skip bins to play their part.
"Ask where your waste will go, ask to see the receipts from previous loads. If they can't show you the proof, go to another company," Ms Gualano said.
"Most operators are doing the right thing. This campaign is about identifying the minority who aren't and ensuring waste is managed safely and lawfully."
"These results confirm that we're targeting the right operators. Our intelligence-led approach is helping us identify businesses cutting corners and putting Victorian communities and the environment at risk," Ms Gualano said.
With 50 skip bin operators inspected so far, EPA has issued multiple cleanup and improvement orders and enforceable compliance advice.
"Businesses that fail to act on that compliance advice can expect further regulatory action, notices and fines," Ms Gualano said.
Under Victorian regulations, operators must be able to show a clear and documented chain of custody, including weighbridge dockets, invoices, disposal records and receipts, to prove that they are lawfully managing waste.
"We won't just take the operator's word for it, and a visit from EPA will be much easier if you have the paperwork to prove that you are doing the right thing," Ms Gualano said.
"Ask where your waste will go, ask to see the receipts from previous loads. If they can't show you the proof, go to another company," Ms Gualano said.
"Most operators are doing the right thing. This campaign is about identifying the minority who aren't and ensuring waste is managed safely and lawfully."
Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA's 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
