CMA Recycling Pty Ltd

CMA Recycling (Vic) Pty Limited (formerly trading as Southern Rocycling) is a large recycler and processor of scrap metal based in Ringwood.  Local residents have reported their concerns to EPA about noise from the premises during both the day and night.

Update – September 2009

CMA Recycling recently applied to Maroondah City Council for a planning permit for the operation of its facilities at 59-61, 73-79 and 3/81-85 Heatherdale Road, Ringwood. EPA has consulted with Maroondah City Council and has made comment on the application, particularly focusing on concern that noise from the facility should accord with limits prescribed in the State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry and Trade) No. N-1 (SEPP N-1).

EPA is committed to working with CMA, Local Councils and the local community to reduce noise from the premises.

In response to community concerns about air emissions from the premises, EPA has inspected the de-zincing process at CMA and made an assessment of air emission.  The only emissions from the process are expected to be water vapour from the vessels used in the cleaning and processing of the scrap zinc.  Water vapour emissions are not subject to works approval and licensing and therefore no licence is required.

Further information on the Meretec process can be found via the following link: http://www.es.anl.gov/Energy_systems/Process_Engineering/Documentation/documentation_files/Dezincing_Scrap_Steel.pdf

Background

EPA issued a Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN)( Adobe PDF format 486 KB) to CMA Recycling in July 2008 following an investigation into excessive noise from its Ringwood site. The notice required that the company undertake an assessment of noise from the site identifying all noise sources, and begin works to reduce noise to within SEPP N-1 limits.

EPA has now revoked this PAN because CMA has complied with the terms of the notice. EPA will continue to participate in monitoring of the site in order to ensure the company operates within SEPP N-1 noise limits.

In May 2009, a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing was conducted to determine Maroondah City Council’s Application for Enforcement Order against CMA Recycling Victoria Pty Ltd. CMA gave Undertakings to comply with a number of measures to reduce noise from its Ringwood premises, pending requirements to apply for a planning permit for their operations from Maroondah City Council (above). The undertakings include measures to reduce night time noise from CMA’s operations.