Environmental compliance crackdown hits local waste handlers

A Lara man has been hit with an $814 infringement after EPA Victoria officers found him burning industrial waste on a Gheringhap property, just an hour after they had warned him the practice was illegal, according to Times News Group. The breach involved plastic insulation and occurred on the Midland Highway property.

The incident underscores EPA Victoria's stepped-up compliance activity in the Greater Geelong region, where industrial and mixed-use zones sit alongside residential areas. For local waste management operators and property owners, the message is unambiguous: burning restricted materials carries swift and costly penalties, and repeat offences trigger escalating enforcement action.

The case serves as a reminder for Geelong-area businesses and residents handling construction waste, demolition materials, and industrial byproducts to confirm disposal methods with EPA Victoria before proceeding. The regulator's willingness to return to sites and follow up on warnings suggests a shift towards proactive monitoring rather than reactive complaints-based enforcement.

Sources: timesnewsgroup.com.au.

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