EPA officers attended the Moorabool West Rd premises in September after receiving pollution reports from the public and found smoke coming from two piles of industrial waste.

Officers smelt burning plastic and noted the piles contained timber, PVC piping, aluminium sheeting, MDF board, brick, tile, plasterboard, glass aerosol cans, tree branches and cement sheeting.

Aerial photo comparisons indicated that the site may have had stockpiled waste since December 2015.

The owner of the site told EPA officers he had allowed an unnamed friend to store waste at the site so they could split the cost of a skip bin but the friend had tipped his waste onto a previous burn pile that then reignited.

EPA issued a clean up notice that required all the material be removed to a landfill. This has been complied at an additional cost above the amount of the fine.

EPA South West Manager Carolyn Francis said storing and burning industrial waste wasn’t worth the risk to the environment or the fine.

“This attempt to save money has ended up costing the landowner at least four times more than simply hiring a skip bin himself,” she said.

“Industrial waste should never be burnt, it has the potential to release harmful chemicals into the environment and needs to be disposed of with a licensed operator.”

Ms Francis thanked those who reported the smoke to EPA.

“We all have a role to play in protecting our environment and I encourage people to report to the EPA’s 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or online at epa.vic.gov.au,” she said.

Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the Infringements Act 2008, the Gordon landowner has the right to have the fine reviewed or have the matter determined by a court.