A company has been fined by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) after it allowed an uncontrolled deposit of fire suppression powder at its Melton site.
Environmentally Friendly Australia Services Pty Ltd (EFAS) – engaged in providing environmental advice to businesses – has been fined after it allowed an uncontrolled deposit of Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) at its site in Melton.
EPA Victoria fined the company $4070 for the unlawful deposit of dangerous litter when it failed to properly control offsite discharge of end-of-life fire extinguishers they were recycling.
The MAP powder was left along the outside of the Norton Drive boundary and near stormwater drain systems, creating a potential environmental risk.
According to EPA Victoria, MAP powder can harm the environment by changing the natural balance of soil and water, and it may increase nutrient levels in waterways, which can reduce water quality and affect plants and animals that rely on clean water.
Under the Environment Protection Act, substances like MAP may be considered dangerous litter if they pose a risk to human health or the environment.
EPA west metropolitan regional manager Julia Gaitan said everyone has a duty to act to protect the environment and “that is especially true of companies engaged in providing environmental services”.
“EFAS will no doubt learn its lesson from this incident, but it’s a message to all businesses to take care not to create environmental risks,” Ms Gaitan said.
