Farmers in the Mildura/Swan Hill area are again being warned to be careful of what they burn as the weather dries out.

EPA Victoria says nobody wins if you burn the wrong things.

EPA Northwest Regional Manager Paul Ratajczyk says that in recent years during spring EPA officers have responded to illegal burn offs, often finding burnt remains of what is effectively industrial waste.

“We find the partly burnt remains of all sorts of things like treated pine posts, grape vine covers, rack sheets, wastetyres, agricultural plastic, mattresses, hessian and household garbage. None of that should have been in the fire,” Mr Ratajczyk said.

“It’s damaging to the environment, a hazard to people’s health and a source of smoke that can taint your neighbour’s crop, especially with sensitive produce like grapes,” he said.

“It’s also illegal, so you can wind up receiving an EPA infringement notice that represents a fine in the thousands of dollars.”

Burning industrial waste can contaminate your own land, pollute nearby waterways and create toxic smoke.

“From a human health perspective, smoke from waste burn-offs can have harmful effects on people with asthma or other lung conditions, older people, pregnant women, babies and young children,” Mr Ratajczyk said.

“If you have been stockpiling material over winter, take waste like that to a facility that has EPA permission to accept it. Trying to save a few dollars with a back paddock burn can turn into a financial loss when the fine arrives in the mail.”

If you see illegal burning off activity call EPA on 1300 372 842 or contact@epa.vic.gov.au