Charge:

1.  Disobey minor works pollution abatement at Somerton between 08 February 2021 and 18 May 2021, contrary to s.31B(6).

Recycling company Close the Loop Limited was fined $5,000 for disobeying an EPA instruction to stop accepting recyclables at its Somerton premises.

The case began when EPA Victoria officers inspected the site at 208 Hume Highway, Campbellfield, in December 2020.

The company accepts, stores and reprocesses soft plastics, printer toner-related wastes, batteries and electronic waste, but the inspection team found the stacks of material at the site had inadequate separation distances to meet fire safety requirements.

EPA issued the company with a remedial notice requiring it to stop accepting most types of recyclables until there were the proper separation distances, but further inspecitons showed the site was still accepting recyclables.