THE EPA has requested Ballarat City Council explain why unapproved items were included in a green waste burn off this week.
Photos obtained by The Courier, believed to be taken at the site of the burn off at Ballarat Airport on Monday, show several household items included in a pile the council claimed was only green waste.
A discarded mattress, timber, a couch, a chest of drawers and cement bags all appear to be strewn with green waste.
Following an inquiry by The Courier, council initially claimed all material contained in the dump was approved and consisted mostly of green waste.
Ballarat City Council general manager city infrastructure Eric Braslis said the council had since completed an internal review of the material burned at the Ballarat Airport.
"It has been confirmed that an external party added material to the prepared pile," Mr Braslis said.
"In retrospect, this material should have removed prior to the programmed burn."
EPA South West region acting manager Carolyn Francis said the authority had not received any direct reports about burning off in Ballarat over the last few days.
However, an EPA spokesperson confirmed a letter had been sent to Mr Braslis asking him to explain the materials included in the burn off.
Any public reports should be made to EPA on 1300 EPA VIC, preferably at the time of the burn.
