KARGBO, Comfort Umu

1. Engaged in prescribed operating activity without an operating license at Campbellfield between 7 June 2022 and 20 June 2022, contrary to section 45(1).
2. Received industrial waste at a place or premise that was not authorised to receive industrial waste at Campbellfield on 7 June 2022, contrary to section 134(1).
3. Engaged in a prescribed registration activity, or an activity that is the subject of an Order under section 87(1) at Campbellfield between 5 July 2022 and 6 July 2022, contrary to section 47(1).
4. Received industrial waste at a place or premise that was not authorised to receive industrial waste at Campbellfield between 5 July 2022 and 6 July 2022, contrary to section 134(1).

The accused in this matter, Comfort Umu Kargbo, trading as MC Tyre Recycle which operates from two waste tyre recycling facilities at Campbellfield and Truganina in Victoria.

On 7 June 2022, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) visited the Campbellfield Premises to conduct an inspection in response to a report of a business operating as a waste transfer facility. The premises were not authorised under a permission by the EPA to accept any kind of industrial waste.

The Officers met with the accused who informed them that the premises was used for a waste tyre collection, storage, and bailing facility. Further, that MC Tyre Recycle sends waste tyres overseas and that the business holds no permission with the EPA or council to operate out of the premises. EPA Officers counted 5,614 Equivalent Passenger Units (EPU) of whole waste tyres stored at the premises.

On 14 June 2022, the Campbellfield Premises had been issued EPA Permission ‘A09b – Waste tyre storage (small)’ and ‘A13c – Waste and resource recovery (small).

On 20 June 2022, EPA Officers visited the Campbellfield Premises to conduct an inspection to assess compliance with the EP Act. During the inspection, EPA Officers among other things noted that the premises was still over 5,000 EPU.

On 5 July 2022, EPA Officers visited the Truganina Premises to conduct an inspection to assess compliance as part of EPA’s Fire Prevention Program. The Truganina Premises was not authorised by a relevant permission by the EPA to accept any kind of industrial waste. During the inspection, the Officers estimated the total number of tyres was 3,347 EPU.

On 6 July 2022, EPA Officers visited the Premises’ to conduct an inspection to assess compliance. During the inspection, the Officers observed waste tyres stored inside of the warehouse with laced second hand tyres stacked along the eastern wall, barrel stacking in various small areas, and random stacking at the south side.