By Tate Papworth
The company at the centre of a recycling crisis which has resulted in tonnes of kerbside recycling being sent to landfill in recent weeks has been charged over a blaze at it’s Coolaroo plant.
The Environment Protection Authority last week charged SKM Recycling and its director over the July, 2017 fire, which burned for 11 days.
EPA chief executive Cathy Wilkinson said the company and its director have been charged with relevant offences under the Environment Protection Act.
She declined to comment further as the matter is now before the courts.
The charges come as the closure of SKM Recycling’s Coolaroo and Laverton North plants enters its fourth week.
The EPA banned SKM from accepting waste at both sites on February 15, amid concerns stockpiles of waste at the plants were a fire hazard.
As a result, Brimbank’s kerbside recycling waste has been sent to landfill.
Brimbank infrastructure and city services director Neil Whiteside initially expected SKM to be able to resume operations “within a matter of days”.
“Council is still waiting to hear when SKM will be able to recommence accepting recyclable material, subject to achieving EPA site condition compliance,” Mr Whiteside said last week.
“Council understands SKM has made substantial progress towards achieving compliance, and as soon as council receives notice from the EPA that the site is able to accept recyclable material, we will recommence sending recyclables to SKM immediately.”
