Looks like EPA are getting serious with their policing of good landfill practices
Now Marty - where was that landfill that took PASS for $15 per tonne without lime process?
Eye in the sky spies Ravenhall breach
19 Jun 2018
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has used aerial images taken from a high-flying light aircraft to monitor landfill sites and issue fines for licence breaches.
Cleanaway subsidiary Landfill Operations Pty Ltd, has been sent an EPA infringement notice after examination of aerial images showing they had breached their licence when waste was allowed to cover an area double the licensed area at its Christies Road, Ravenhall site.
The licenced limit of the ‘tipping face’ the area where waste can be located is 1,800 Square metres but on expert examination of the images, it was found to be more than double that area.
“EPA expects that all licence holders will meet their obligations and we will enforce those obligations if they have not. Landfill sites can be a challenge because of their size or remoteness. Gaining access and then undertaking onsite measurements to ensure compliance using traditional methods can be time and resource consuming. By using different technologies such as drones, aerial images and satellites we are sending a message that we are watching and no site in Victoria is beyond our gaze,” said EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan.
“But with aircraft we have no access issues and can provide images of a site at a point in time that can be measured with high accuracy. In this case EPA alleges those images show that the Landfill Operations had dramatically exceeded their tipping area. EPA expects operators to regularly monitor and ensure their own compliance with their EPA licence conditions. Landfill Operations should have been aware that the tipping face of the landfill was well beyond that permitted and therefor a fine is appropriate sanction.
“Using technologies like this sends a very clear message to anyone considering breaching their licence or the Environment Protection Act 1970, that they should think twice. EPA has the technology to observe, detect and regulate without the need to conduct on-the-ground compliance activities. We have a new tool and one that will make gathering evidence much more efficient particularly with large landfill.
“Aerial photography has been very successful in cases involving illegal dumping and EPA is also investigating the use of the satellite to help monitor sites and catch offenders.”
Landfill Operations Pty Ltd has been issued a $7,929 fine for the offence. Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the company has the right to appeal the decision.
