Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has laid 12 charges against a company under the Environment Protection Act 1970 following a comprehensive investigation into a fire and e-waste stockpiling at premises in Sydney Road Campbellfield.
The company charged is MRI (Aust) Pty Ltd.
The charges allege that the MRI (Aust) Pty Ltd caused pollution of the atmosphere and the waters of Merlynston Creek and Foden Reserve as a result of a fire which occurred on 9 August 2020, as well as contravening certain conditions of its licence relating to the storage of e-waste at its premises.
Further charges allege that between December 2019 and August 2020, the company contravened a condition of its licence which placed limits on the quantity of e-waste stored at the premises, and also contravened the requirement of a minor works pollution abatement notice that it cease accepting e-waste until it reduced the amount of such waste stored at its premises.
Pollution of waters and pollution of the atmosphere charges are indictable criminal offences under sections 39 and 41 of the Environment Protection Act 1970 respectively, with a maximum penalty of $396,528.
Contravening the requirements of a licence is an indictable criminal offence under section 27 of the Environment Protection Act 1970, also with a maximum penalty of $396,528.
Contravening the requirements of a minor works pollution abatement notice is a summary criminal offence under section 31B of the Environment Protection Act 1970, with a maximum penalty of $49,566.
EPA guidelines regarding licence compliance and how to appropriately manage e-waste are available at www.epa.vic.gov.au
