EPA fines dentist after birds attack clinical waste

EPA Victoria has fined a dental practice that allowed birds to attack its bins and strew clinical waste around a Kew neighbourhood over the Anzac Day weekend.

Dental Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Bupa Dental Kew, is $4,070 lighter in the pocket after it left unprotected plastic bags and overstuffed bins on Union Street on the afternoon of April 24 this year.

Neighbours were infuriated when birds tore open the bags and clinical waste blew around the street, leading them to photograph the mess and report it to the EPA.

EPA North Metropolitan Regional Manager Steve Riley said medical centres had a particular responsibility to manage their waste.

“Clinical waste is classified as reportable priority waste,” Mr Riley said. “This means that it is considered the most hazardous type of waste, and it requires special handling.

“Anyone in the medical industry should be aware of this, and they should know better than to allow their rubbish to be blown around a public street.”

Mr Riley said the practice was given formal compliance advice on proper waste handling and hit with a fine for dangerous littering under s115(2) of the Environment Protection Act 2017. The practice has the right to request a review.

For more information about managing clinical waste, go to EPA Victoria’s Clinical and related industrial waste web page.(opens in a new window)

Anyone who sees waste dumped where it doesn’t belong can report it to their local council or to EPA Victoria’s 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842 or visit our Pollution Reporting Portal(opens in a new window).