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EPA expects all waste, recycling, and resource recovery facilities to reduce and control the risk of fire onsite in line with the Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act), including:

  • the general environmental duty, and
  • Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (EP Regulations).

Where operators are not meeting their obligations we will take action in line with accordance with our compliance and enforcement policy. We can issue notices and sanctions for those who break the law. This can include penalties of up to almost) $ 1,817,400 (10,000 penalty units). Higher penalties are also available for intentional or reckless contraventions resulting or likely to result in material harm to human health and the environment.

Despite over 1000 EPA inspections since 2017 minor fires at waste and recycling sites continue. EPA is  working with industry and co-regulators to prevent fires at waste and resource recovery facilities by:

  • inspecting premises across Victoria
  • increasing compliance with the general environmental duty and waste duties, and
  • the extension of permissioning requirements for the waste and resource recovery sector

Under our compliance and enforcement policy EPA may take action:

  • when a risk is identified
  • If you don’t have appropriate and up to date fire risk assessments and emergency management plans with effective controls in place
  • If you can’t immediately rectify the risk in the presence of the EPA officer.

Resources to help control risk

Fire prevention obligations for the waste and resource recovery sector

EPA expects duty holders to prevent fires from happening in the first place. You should have a risk management process which includes:

  • a current fire risk assessment
  • key fire prevention controls that you have implemented and monitored
  • an emergency management plan. 

You must:

  • comply with  the general environmental duty and waste duties
  • comply with any  permission conditions if you are a permission holder
  • identify and effectively control risks
  • have a fire management plan and put appropriate controls in place
  • immediately remedy any non-compliance and maintain compliance.

When you can't eliminate the risk of fires, you must implement reasonably practicable controls to limit the severity of fires.

EPA expects all site operators to take reasonable steps to minimise risks of harm to human health and the environment.

The difference between fire prevention and fire suppression

Fire prevention

Fire prevention means stopping the fire from starting in the first place. EPA expects duty holders to eliminate the risk of fires from occurring.

Examples of fire prevention include:

  • a fire risk assessment
  • identification and implementation of fire prevention controls
  • maintenance of fire controls to ensure thy are working
  • an emergency management plan.

Download an A3 poster for printing out that shows you how to reduce the risk of fire (available in six languages).

Fire suppression

Fire suppression means limiting the severity of fires. Where you cannot eliminate the risk of fire, EPA expects that duty holders implement reasonably practicable controls to prevent the severity of fires. If a fire starts, we expect you to have systems that limit the impacts.

Examples of fire suppression systems include:

  • fire extinguishers
  • fire hoses
  • sprinklers
  • accessible emergency access points.

These systems do not prevent a fire from occurring, they work to minimise the impact.

Once you have installed fire suppression systems, ensure you maintain them in good working order, but regular reviewing the equipment. This includes checking they are within their usability dates, testing to ensure they are operating correctly and making sure the equipment is not obstructed. 

Report high fire risk waste and resource recovery sites

You can report sites that you believe pose a high fire risk. Risk may include tightly packed, large or rapidly growing stockpiles, and poor onsite management practices at waste or resource recovery facilities.

Contact EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or contact@epa.vic.gov.au. We’re here 24/7.

About EPA’s Fire Prevention Program

EPA’s Fire Prevention Program (FPP) launched in January 2021.

We set up the FPP to respond to the high risk of fires at waste, recycling and resource recovery facilities.

The FPP is a prevention-based program. It aims to reduce the number of fires at waste and resource recovery facilities in Victoria.

EPA has a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe waste practices that can present a risk of fire. The FPP will support this approach by:

  • focusing on enforcement and action where practices are unsafe
  • working with industry, fire agencies and co-regulators to improve the understanding of fire risk, and the controls required to prevent fires
  • delivering a significant program of inspections
  • issuing remedial notices and sanctions.

Fire prevention questions and answers

  • What is shredder floc and why is it important to manage?

    Answer: Shredder floc is a fine metal waste material produced when recycling metals. Floc is highly combustible and poses a fire risk when stored inappropriately stored in stockpiles.

    Metal recycling from automobiles, appliances and scrap steel occurs at dedicated metal shredding operations. Metal shredder waste, or floc; consists of glass, rubber, plastics, fibers, dirt, and fines that remain after ferrous and nonferrous metals have been removed.

    Floc is a known source of fires at CRWM metal facilities.

    You can find more information on how to manage floc and its associated fire risks in the Management and storage of combustible recyclable and waste materials – guideline (publication 1667) 

     

  • What are some common ignition sources at metal recycling sites?

    There are a range of common ignition sources at metal sites including:

    • Failure to maintain and safely operate machinery.
    • A build-up of combustible materials in machinery such as paper, carboard, plastic, metal fines that can be ignited during machinery operation.
    • Batteries and gas cylinders can catch fire if they are crushed by metal stored in stockpiles, run over by excavators, or shredded in machinery.
    • They can also overheat and self-combust if not properly stored. Batteries and gas cylinders must be disposed of at permitted recycling facilities.
    • Hot works such as grinding, cutting, and welding are a common source of fire ignition at CRWM facilities. Hot works should be conducted in a segregated area away from CRWM, with fire suppression controls in place such as fire extinguishers and fire hoses readily available.
    • Smoking cigarettes in areas where CRWM is stored is a common fire ignition source. Smokers must use designated smoking areas that are located away from any combustible materials.

    Failure to remove ignition sources from incoming material streams can cause a fire.

    More information on these ignition sources, and how to manage risks associated with them, is available in Management and storage of combustible recyclable and waste materials – guideline (publication 1667).

  • Why is it important to remove batteries and gas cylinders from incoming waste streams?

    Failure to remove ignition sources from incoming material streams can cause a fire.

    Batteries and gas cylinders are a common source of ignition at metal recycling facilities. They can catch fire if they are crushed by metal stored in stockpiles, run over by excavators, or shredded in machinery. They can also overheat and self-combust if not properly stored. Batteries and gas cylinders should be removed from incoming waste streams before metal waste is processed and should be stored in a secure area away from other CRWM. Batteries and gas cylinders must be disposed of at permitted recycling facilities. Hot works such as grinding, cutting, and welding are a common source of fire ignition at CRWM facilities. Hot works should be conducted in a segregated area away from CRWM, with fire suppression controls in place such as fire extinguishers and fire hoses readily available.

     

  • How can I reduce the risk of fires in stockpiles?

    To reduce the risk of fire in stockpiles:

    • Allow processed material to cool prior to baling/storage.
    • Monitor internal temperatures and moisture content of stockpiles using a thermal imaging camera.
    • Ensure your stockpile meet CRWM size requirements.

    More information is available in Management and storage of combustible and recyclable waste material – guideline (publication 1667)  

     

  • How can I minimise the harm from fires?

    You can minimise the harm from fire by limiting fire spread between piles, buildings and limiting fuel loads.

    Always allow access between stockpiles for firefighting.

    For more information on stockpile management refer to Management and storage of combustible and recyclable waste material – guideline (publication 1667)  

     

  • What are the consequences of fire?

    Fires cause significant damage to the environment. Toxic smoke can impact air quality and toxic fire run-off water and firefighting chemicals entering local creeks and waterways.

    For instance, in the event of a fire, the plastic material would break down into hazardous compounds and generate a great deal of smoke, impacting nearby sensitive receptors. Toxic gases can be produced by plastic material fires. Plastic material fire run-off is also a significant environmental contaminant for water.

    The financial cost of remediating the environment can be in the millions of dollars.

    Fire can harm your employees, visitors, contractors, residents, and businesses such as exposure to toxic smoke, asbestos, or other reactive dusts.

    Fires can result in significant business interruption, financial penalties, increased insurance premiums and even criminal convictions.

Read more about managing combustible waste

How to manage combustible waste materials

Controlling e-waste hazards and risks

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Reviewed 27 August 2021