EPA Victoria has fined Earth Systems Consulting Pty Ltd more than $1,800 over an incident that led to reports from the public of smoke, odour and litter on a sports ground at Sale.

The fine of $1,849 is for unlawfully depositing less than 50 litres of waste, a breach of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

The site duty holder was conducting a project trialling the use of pyrolysis (heating without oxygen) to treat incontinence products and manufacturing waste. 

The project had been operating under an EPA-issued Authorisation of Discharges or Disposal (ADD), which allowed the temporary trial to go ahead under strict conditions.  

EPA has now issued the duty holder with a Notice to Show Cause, requiring it to explain why the ADD should not be withdrawn. The trial was already planned to finish on Friday 21 April 2023, but the information will be considered by EPA if the duty holder applies for new permissions in the future.

Callers to EPA reported smoke, odour and litter from the site late on Wednesday 5 April, and EPA officers inspected the site the next day, then twice more over the next two weeks.

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.

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