A Derrimut cooking oil transport company has been fined $4070 by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria after it was seen washing out its storage tanks then allowing the wastewater to escape their bunded area and flow to the nearby stormwater drain.
The EPA said it previously warned the company located in Derrimut Drive — Cookers Bulk Oil System — about the illegal discharge of wash waters but the EPA said the company had not acted to change its practice.
EPA west metropolitan regional manager Julia Gaitan said EPA officers saw wash waters containing grease trap waste being discharged to the stormwater system.
“An oil sheen was seen on the liquid in the stormwater pit,” Ms Gaitan said.
“This stormwater pit discharges to the municipal stormwater system, which then flows to Laverton Creek. Grease trap waste deposited into the stormwater system can impact aquatic life when it discharges to a waterway and can contribute to blockages in the municipal stormwater system.
“The only thing that should be going down our stormwater drains is rain. Cookers Bulk Oil were advised to stop their illegal practice but failed to heed that advice. Now they have a fine of $4070 and we will be monitoring them to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
