Vic bushland littered with waste, asbestos

Two business owners fined over the illegal dumping of asbestos in public bushland in Victoria may have been doing it for years, the state's environment protection authority says.

Fibrous cement sheeting, bricks, tiles and other industrial waste were found littered across several acres of the Wargan-Mallee Bushland Reserve following a tip-off to Environment Protection Authority Victoria in February.

Waste had also been buried throughout the littered section of the reserve near Mildura.

EPA North West Manger Scott Pigdon said some of the waste dumped near a lake in the reserve tested positive for asbestos.

Two people from a business in nearby Merbein West were this week fined nearly $4000 and ordered to clean up the mess.

The EPA isn't sure how much waste was dumped, and said it had possibly been going on for years.

If the waste is not cleaned up as ordered, the pair could face court action and fines of up to $373,000.