By Cameron Weston
THE Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined an Altona North landfill company for breaching its operating licence.
Scott Maloney, regional manager of EPA West Metropolitan, said Altona North Landfill Pty Ltd was fined $5241 because uncovered waste was detected at its McArthurs Road site.
The company must cover the landfill, which covers several acres, at the end of every day with at least 150 millimetres of soil, under the terms of its licence.
“The company had earlier been warned of the importance of covering all waste. When we returned to the site we found the company had failed to heed this warning and had left waste uncovered,” Mr Maloney said.
“Covering waste is an important aspect of controlling the emission of dust and litter from the site, which this company has a history of.”
Zoran Masalkovski, spokesman for Altona North Landfill, said this was the first time the company had been fined in 12 years of operation.
Mr Masalkovski said the infringement was a minor oversight and not indicative of a general lack of care at the site.
“We covered the whole face, except the last half-metre of the tipping face because it was getting dark,” Mr Masalkovski said.
“The next morning, at seven o’clock, the EPA came in and saw it and gave us the fine.
“We believed it was covered enough but we copped it on the chin.
“They are the rules and we are not going to complain.
“We will keep endeavouring to do our best by the EPA, and the community,” Mr Masalkovski said.
The company has 28 days to pay the fine, or the matter will be dealt with in court.
