The operator of Dandenong South’s controversial toxic waste dump has been again by the state’s pollution watchdog, Environment Protection Authority Victoria.
Veolia Recycling and Recovery and Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) were fined almost $40,000 for failing to use permissioned vehicles to transport hazardous waste.
The vehicles transported ‘reportable priority waste’ to sites in Wollert, Dandenong South and Brooklyn in October 2024, without having permission to do so, the EPA stated.
“It’s disappointing to see a large company like Veolia fail to obtain the appropriate permission before transporting reportable priority waste,” EPA compliance programs manager Zac Dornom said.
The ‘reportable priority waste’ classification applies to waste that poses the “highest risk” and is “extremely hazardous to human health and the environment”.
It is only allowed in vehicles with appropriate EPA permission.
Veolia operates a hazardous-waste landfill – under an EPA licence – in Taylors Road, Dandenong South.
In June this year, it was issued three EPA improvement notices for ongoing management of issues around leachate, dust and landfill gas.
In September 2023, Veolia was fined $9246 for failing to provide a report on the site’s groundwater quality by deadline.
