The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has uncovered four additional warehouses in the north stockpiling soft plastics.
The new sites identified in the west included a warehouse in Laverton storing 170 tonnes of soft plastic.
The EPA said the Laverton site was inspected yesterday with Fire Rescue Victoria to determine the actions required for the safe storage of the soft plastics and regulatory notices are pending.
This site has been rated as high risk due to concerns about the mix of materials held at the site, which includes tyres.
The discovery is part of the EPA’s investigation into the REDcycle program, which to date has uncovered 14 sites.
EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said the discovery of the new sites showed EPA’s determination to prevent risk in the community and environment from pollution and waste.
“Our officers are determined to keep the community and environment safe,” he said.
“We are following up all new leads to find these sites.
“If not stored safely, soft plastics can pose a fire risk.
“Businesses need to manage this risk using controls such as built-in fire suppression systems, storage size limits and minimum separation distances between stockpiles.”
EPA’s earlier investigations located warehouses in West Footscray, Truganina, Williamstown North, Campbellfield, Tullamarine, Dandenong South, West Wodonga, Craigieburn, and two in Tottenham.
There are currently seven warehouses which have received regulatory notices requiring action to reduce fire risk.
EPA officers continue to monitor all sites to ensure compliance with environmental requirements and continue to issue information gathering notices to further the investigation.
In December, EPA charged RG Programs and Services Pty Ltd, the operators of the REDcycle program, with offences under the Environment Protection Act 2017, alleging it failed to disclose full information about sites storing soft plastics.
The matter is listed in the Sunshine Magistrates Court for later this month.
Details: 1300 372 842 or epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/soft-plastics-storage
