CITY EASES FEARS OVER WASTE COLLECTION:

Geelong dodges rubbish crisis

A SOUTH Geelong recycling plant will continue to receive the region’s waste, despite a looming waste crisis forcing some Victorian councils to dump kerbside recycling into landfill this week.

SKM Recycling has been banned from accepting waste at its major Laverton North and Coolaroo sites by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), due to concerns stockpiled plastic posed a fire and public health hazard.

The ban also comes following a major fire at SKM’s Coolaroo site in 2017 which burned for almost two weeks and led to the evacuation of more than 100 homes.

Geelong’s kerbside recycling will continue being accepted at the South Geelong SKM site, despite an October fire that blanketed the suburb with thick acrid smoke

The EPA had also issued a pair of statutory notices on the South Geelong recycling plant — both of which were complied with — most recently in July 2017.

Despite the bans in Laverton North and Coolaroo, it is unlikely to see waste redirected to recycling plants in Geelong, with a City of Greater Geelong spokeswoman saying it was not aware of such plans.

Council’s city services director Guy Wilson-Browne said City Hall would also not be sending any of its recycling to landfill.

“SKM Geelong is receiving and sorting household recyclables as per normal,” he said.

“It’s important to keep sorting your rubbish and putting household recyclables in your yellow-lid bin. The City has a long-term contract with SKM and we are working together to ensure that the kerbside waste and recycling service is main- tained for our community.”

While Geelong’s kerbside recycling appears safe for now, many councils across the state have been faced with the prospect of dumping recyclable waste into landfill due to the SKM ban.

Port Phillip Council revealed it would be forced to divert about 43 tonnes of kerbside recyclables to landfill over two days this week, due to the SKM ban.

The EPA last week announced it had issued SKM notices for the Coolaroo and Laverton sites to stop receiving waste due to safety concerns over waste stockpiles at the sites.

“These waste stockpiles could pose a significant risk and challenge for firefighting agencies if ignited,” EPA chief executive Cathy Wilkinson said.

“EPA has determined that these stockpiles are in breach of the Waste Management Policy that has been in place since August 2017 following a major fire at the Coolaroo site.”

SKM Recycling was contacted for comment.

“It’s important to keep sorting your rubbish and putting household recyclables in your yellow-lid bin.” GUY WILSON- BROWNE