EPA Victoria’s investigations into soft plastics collected as part of the REDcycle program has uncovered another four warehouses located in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs.

There are now 14 confirmed sites in Victoria. The new sites are in Laverton (170 tonnes of soft plastic), Truganina (80), Tullamarine (32 ) and Craigieburn (11).

EPA CEO Lee Miezis said the discovery of the new sites showed EPA’s determination to prevent risk to our communities and environment from pollution and waste.

‘’Our officers are determined to keep the community and environment safe. We are following up all new leads to find these sites.,” Mr Miezis said.

“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.

EPA officers have already issued an improvement notice on the new Truganina site, demanding better emergency access and a reduction in the stockpile.

The Laverton site was inspected yesterday with Fire Rescue Victoria to determine the actions required for 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 Tullamarine and Craigieburn sites are considered low risk.

There are currently seven warehouses that have regulatory notices issued to them requiring action to reduce fire risk. 

A Tottenham warehouse has the largest amount of materials, with 1,000 tonnes of soft plastics on site, has now complied with several EPA requirements reducing its risk rating from high to medium. 

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 later this month.

Community members or businesses with information on soft plastics stockpiles can call the EPA hotline on 1300 372 842. For more information go to: epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/soft-plastics-storage