By Matthew Sims
The Environment Protection Authority [EPA] Victoria has discovered six warehouses, including warehouses in Tottenham, Williamstown North and West Footscray, are currently housing about 3000 tonnes of soft plastic as part of ongoing investigations into the REDcycle recycling scheme.
The EPA issued an information gathering notice to the operators of REDcycle, uncovering warehouses managed by logistics companies in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs, with the soft plastics believed to have come from interstate.
EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said officers have took action to ensure fire risk mitigation is in place in all sites to reduce the possibility of harm to local communities and the businesses.
“We’ll continue to work hard, using our stronger regulatory powers, until we’re certain we’ve found every site in Victoria,” he said.
“We will not allow unacceptable risks to Victoria’s community or environment from pollution or waste.”
In May, EPA officers found a warehouse containing soft plastics in Williamstown North, which was under the control of the operators of REDcycle.
EPA intervened to bring the site into compliance and further regulatory action against the company has led to this larger discovery.
Mr Miezis said all warehouses currently housing soft plastic waste as part of the REDcycle program would be encouraged to contact the EPA.
“Although the operators of REDcycle did tell us about some of the sites, intelligence from logistics companies and others is assisting EPA’s investigations,” he said.
“For your safety and for the safety of your employees, business and local community, you must make sure that you’re complying with our environmental laws.”
REDcycle temporarily paused its soft plastics collection program from Coles and Woolworths stores from November 9.
According to REDcycle, the group has worked with several Australian recycling partners to process soft plastic into new products, such as street furniture, bins, shopping trolleys, bollards, concrete aggregate for construction and asphalt additives for roads.
However, REDcycle has confirmed due to several unforeseen challenges and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, its recycling partners have been temporarily unable to accept and process soft plastics, leading to the decision for the soft plastics to be held in storage in the short term.
Details: www.epa.vic.gov.au
