$10,000 fine for burning waste

A Kurunjang company has been fined $10,176 for dumping and burning industrial waste on rural land at Darraweit Guim, north of Melbourne.

Officers from EPA Victoria inspected the Heaths Lane property on 9 June 2026 after receiving a pollution report from the public, one of more than 26,000 pollution reports EPA receives every year.

They found piles of mixed construction waste including scrap metal, timber, glass bottles, cans, spray cans, plastic, plasterboard and wire coated in fiberglass insulation.

EPA fined the owner of the property, BDS Family Investment (Vic) Pty Ltd, for unlawfully disposing of more than 1,000 litres of industrial waste by burning, in contravention of Section 115 of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

EPA Northwest Regional Manager Paul Ratajczyk says this was not just a bit of farm rubbish that should have gone to landfill.

"We received reports of loads of waste being brought in and dumped, then set on fire," Mr Ratajczyk said.

"Dumping and burning industrial waste is illegal, and in this case was of sufficient scale to be contaminating the land and potentially nearby waterways,” he said.

"It is obvious pollution, producing smoke and odour, and leaving chemical residue on the ground. Anyone passing by who sees industrial waste being burnt can report it, and EPA won't hesitate to hold the polluter to account."

Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Infringements Act 2006, the operator has the right to have the infringement notice reviewed or be considered by a court.

Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution