Improving recycling safety standards with Victorian audits
Audits are being carried out on resource recovery facilities across Victoria in order to improve safety standards at recycling sites.
This follows on from the release of the Resource Recovery Facilities Audit Taskforce’s interim report, commissioned by the Victorian Government to protect the community.
The taskforce was set up in the aftermath of the SKM Recycling plant fire in Coolaroo, targeting key recycling sites that require extra management measures to ensure community safety.
To date, the taskforce has conducted 88 inspections of 73 sites and issued 37 statutory notices.
The interim report found that while no site was as high a fire risk as Coolaroo, the sector needs to be better prepared and equipped to manage the risk of fire.
The government will consider each recommendation made by the taskforce, with inspections to continue until June 2018.
“This is about improving safety measures and helping to prevent a fire from happening in the first place,” said Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio.
“The taskforce is auditing recycling facilities across the state to identify and prioritise sites that require action to better protect the community.
“The government will carefully consider all of the recommendations in the report and respond in due course.”
To assist the taskforce, the government has strengthened the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) by establishing an interim Waste Management Policy to improve safety standards at waste and resource recovery facilities.
This is in addition to investing $162.5 million to reform the EPA and passing the Environment Protection Bill 2017 in October this year — the first of two Bills to overhaul the independent regulator.
To help industry comply with the policy, the taskforce has developed guidelines that provide detailed information for resource recovery facility operators on how best to prevent and reduce the impact of fires.
A summary of the taskforce’s interim report can be found at epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/programs/victorian-government-resource-recovery-audit-taskforce.
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