It follows the revelation of 200 stockpiles of recycling waste were found across Victoria by the state's environmental watchdog.

Ten months after China announced it would no longer import "foreign garbage", Victoria is yet to find a way out of the crisis gripping its $4 billion recycling system.

The threat of stockpiled recycling was brought home to Victorians when the SKM recycling plant in Coolaroo caught fire in July last year. SKM is the contractor for City of Ballarat’s recycling. 

The massive blaze lasted for 11 days, spewed toxic smoke over surrounding suburbs and blanketed much of the city in ash.

In the wake of the fire it was revealed that SKM had been stockpiling about 250 tonnes of recyclable waste a day, mostly at its sites in Laverton and Hallam. Some was kept at Coolaroo, but that was consumed when the plant went up in flames.

A spokesperson for SKM Recycling confirmed the EPA had been onsite previously, and while recycle stockpiling was not part of their operation normally, rebuilding of facilities meant there had been and continues to be stockpiles.

“Since the Coolaroo fire in July last year, we’ve worked hard to ensure all regulatory requirements now in place in Victoria are met,” the spokesperson said. 

“SKM does not currently have any EPA clean up or infringement notices at any of its sites. 

“Unlike some in the industry, SKM does not store recyclable material as part of it normal business operations. When our newly rebuilt facilities come on line in coming months, SKM will once again have enough capacity to process all recyclables received without the need for large scale storage.”

Ballarat’s waste is processed at the contractor’s Geelong site. 

City of Ballarat have confirmed that discussions are still continuing to lock down a recycle processing agreement with SKM.

The contractor originally set a deadline for agreements on recycling collection to be made by April 13.

City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo re-confirmed to The Courier last week that the council’s waste levy – part of its overall rates structure – may be impacted by the changes and increased, due to the higher cost of sending recyclable materials overseas.

This will be made clear when the city releases its budget later this month. 

Hepburn Shire Council announced waste increases in its newly released 2018-19 budget, with the shire’s kerbside recycling collection charge increased from $46 to $79, an increase of $33. The waste management charge has also increased by $12, from $118 last year to $130 this year. Garbage collection has increased by $2.

Mt Alexander Shire Council’s 2018-19 budget has increased its kerbside bin collection charges by an average of 5.4%.

Mr Demeo said the city was “confident” the EPA were working with industry to comply to guidelines in response to a “range of stockpile issues around the state”. 

- With The Age