An eye in the sky has caught a Warragul business illegally burning off waste earning them an EPA Victoria fine of $9,616.

Satellite imagery spotted burn piles on the Copelands Rd premises of Flavorite Hydroponic Tomatoes Pty Ltd.

A follow up inspection in November by EPA officers found that vegetation from Flavorite’s greenhouse processes and pallets, most of which are from imported chemicals and fertilisers that cannot be reused, had been burnt.

During the inspection, the officers also observed a burn pile containing previously burnt material and unburnt material ready to be burnt. The unburnt material included timber pallets, treated timber products, vegetation, string, plastics, and metal fittings none of which should be disposed of in this way.

An improvement notice was issued requiring Flavorite to remove all leachate from the premises to a lawful place, to develop a plan to manage leachate and prevent it entering surface waters, to develop a procedure for managing all waste streams including identifying waste and disposing of it lawfully and to keep appropriate records.

“We’ll continue to monitor to ensure they are now compliant, but we have been very clear  that under the new EP Act, they have to act to protect the environment,” EPA Gippsland Regional Manager Jessica Bandiera said.

“Flavorite should know what it has to do to be compliant and given the nature of their offence and the potential for further harm to the environment had we not intervened, a fine is appropriate.”

“This is also a reminder to other businesses that you cannot burn your waste. It must be disposed of appropriately and EPA has guidance available on its website to help businesses determine the best way to dispose of the waste they have. There is also guidance available on how to manage and store chemicals and prevent run off into water ways”.

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/waste

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/store-manage-liquids