By Danielle Kutchel
Embattled recycling giant SKM has announced that it will immediately cease collecting recyclable materials – including those from the Casey and Cardinia regions.
That leaves the two local councils desperately searching for alternatives, as recyclables go back into landfill.
The Environment Protection Authority has ordered Glass Recovery Services (GRS), a separate company that is next door to SKM’s Coolaroo recycling site but that is owned by the same people, to stop accepting material due to fire risk. As a result, SKM has stopped accepting materials at its recycling site next door. SKM has been contacted for comment to clarify the situation.
In a media release posted to the organisation’s website, EPA resource recovery facilities audit taskforce manager Danny Childs said the notice follows failure by GRS to comply with previous EPA notices requiring it to address risks that its stockpiles posed to the community and the environment if there had been a larger fire.
“The company’s stockpiles are in breach of the Waste Management Policy and it cannot receive further combustible waste at the site until EPA is satisfied it has gained compliance,” Mr Childs said.
“A large volume of glass waste it has received at the site has been contaminated with other types of waste, such as mixed plastics and paper and has resulted in an increased fire risk within stockpiles.”
It follows a similar closure of SKM sites earlier this year, that saw recycling diverted to landfill for several weeks.
SKM contacted local councils which will be impacted, including the City of Casey and Shire of Cardinia, from Thursday 25 July.
In a statement, Cardinia Shire Council’s general manager infrastructure and environment Peter Benazic said the council was working with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group, Municipal Association of Victoria and other affected councils to find viable, short-term alternate arrangements with other recycling processors while SKM was out of action.
“We are disappointed about this situation and recognise this is frustrating for our residents, who have a strong track record when it comes to recycling,“ he said.
“No one wants recycling going to landfill and we are doing everything we can to find alternate arrangements to reduce the impact of this issue on our environment.“
He said residents can expect that their kerbside recycling collections will continue as normal, although recycling materials would be diverted to landfill.
City of Casey manager sustainability and waste Michael Jansen said recycled materials from the Casey region would also be sent to landfill.
“Sending recyclable material to landfill always remains a last resort, however there is limited spare capacity in the Victorian recycling industry,“ he said.
“For the majority of councils who utilise SKM including Casey, the only immediate option available is to send recyclable materials to landfill until the matter is resolved or a viable alternative becomes available.
“We are advised by SKM that this disruption is temporary. The collection of household recycling bins will continue as normal during this time.“
Like Cardinia, Casey is working with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group and other affected councils to develop solutions to the recycling crisis.
Residents in both Casey and Cardinia are being encouraged to continue recycling and to consider reducing their waste. Free drop-off points for residential amounts of certain types of waste are also available, including for squashed, empty aluminium cans which can be taken to Future Recycling Pakenham, and soft plastics which can be recycled at any Coles or Woolworths supermarkets. Recycling points for other products can be found at https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/.
