A McDonalds outlet has been fined by EPA Victoria after they were found tipping their waste cooking oil down the stormwater drain.
EPA Victoria has fined the Kingsbury McDonalds in Plenty Road $3,846 after their staff were found pouring waste oil down the stormwater drain rather than putting it into the collection tank as should have happened.
EPA officers received a report from the community about an oily discharge coming from stormwater drains near the Kingsbury golden arches.
A phone call to the franchise outlet owner established that a pump necessary for the operation of the collection tank had not been working for three months and staff had been tipping waste oil down the drain instead.
“The only thing that should be going down the stormwater drain is rain. Businesses like McDonalds know their obligations to protect the environment,” EPA North Metro Regional Manager Jeremy Settle said.
“We’ve contacted McDonalds’ head office to highlight the issue and ensure they let all their franchises know that this is not an acceptable practice.”
“Cooking oils have a harmful effect on aquatic life. It can cause the depletion of oxygen similar to petroleum oils.”
