By Gabrielle Costa
A QUEENSLAND-BASED salad manufacturer has been fined more than $5000 after investigating environmental officers discovered food waste in storm-water drains near its Tottenham plant.
Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen was fined $5506 by Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority following reports of offensive odours late last year. Investigating officers found food waste in the nearby storm water system.
The EPA’s west metropolitan regional manager, Sylvia Armand, said the company had been ordered to clean up the mess.
“An EPA inspection of the site determined the source of the discharge was contracted cleaners washing food waste out a door of the premises, which then flowed into the stormwater system.
“This is obviously not a good use of water and is a failure to implement proper waste management procedures,” she said.
The company was given four weeks to pay the fine. If the fine is unpaid, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.
Star contacted the company for comment but no response was received by deadline. On its website, the company says it “recognises its responsibility to continually improve its environmental impact associated with operations.
“We seek to comply and exceed all relevant environmental legislation and regulations, with programs in place to minimise waste, pollution and resource consumption – particularly in relation to water and electricity consumption.”
Ms Armand said: “They have implemented better practices and educated their cleaners to ensure they do not have a repeat of this incident.”
