The Waste and Resource Recovery (WARR) industry is under intense pressure as dangerous fires, fuelled by batteries, continue to break out at facilities across Australia.
“Our industry, which plays a critical role in managing essential waste, is facing a national crisis,” said Gayle Sloan, CEO of Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), the national peak industry body.
“The WARR industry cannot continue to shoulder the financial and safety risks posed by the hazardous materials we are required to handle,” said Ms Sloan.
Today, ten (10) fire crews are battling a blaze at a Queensland facility, which, based on the circumstances, is expected to be another battery-related fire. This follows a major fire in Victoria at a facility housing 3,000 lithium-ion batteries.
These incidents come on the heels of a devastating fire last Friday in Cairns, which destroyed a significant Waste and Resource Recovery (WARR) processing facility. The fire has disrupted operations for months, possibly years, and will cost millions to rebuild.
“Fires in trucks and facilities are a daily reality for our workers and communities,” said Ms Sloan.
“Yet, while these catastrophic events continue, only New South Wales has taken meaningful action, introducing drop-off locations for embedded batteries and drafting mandatory regulations for their safe disposal and stewardship”.
The costs of these fires are escalating into the millions, not to mention the significant disruptions to services and the harmful impact on the surrounding communities from pollution events.
“The reality is that we are not the manufacturers of these products, but we are the ones dealing with the fallout—both literally and financially.”
“The industry is calling on all levels of government to act decisively and urgently. No more discussions—we need urgent, united action now. Without swift and comprehensive measures, we will be forced to consider halting the collection of bins that could contain these dangerous items.”
The time for action is now.
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