‘Keep our fingers crossed’: Toxic pile of fire-prone waste allowed to stay

A mountain of dangerous toxic waste is piling up on the doorstep of Geelong.

And VCAT has decided to let it stay there a little longer.

The 350,000-square-metre pile of fire-prone industrial waste sits at the C & D Recycling plant in Lara.

Most of it is building waste, which Dr Trevor Thorton, a lecturer in hazardous materials at Deakin University, told Ross and John poses a fire risk, which could then become a health issue.

However, Geelong council has lost its recent VCAT battle to shut down it down.

Instead, VCAT applied new conditions.

“If a fire did happen, we’d keep our fingers crossed the wind doesn’t blow over houses,” Dr Thornton said.

Click PLAY to hear more of his expert analysis with Ross and John