The Elong Elong Waste Facility has been closed after asbestos was dumped at the site.
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The decision was made by Dubbo Regional Council on Friday. Council’s manager solid waste Mark Giebel said it appeared the waste, which contained old tiles and sections of wall, had come from a renovation.
“People really need to be aware of the risks that asbestos poses and avoid playing renovation roulette,” he said.
“As we come to the end of National Asbestos Awareness month, and the fact that one of the Waste Facilities in our LGA has been contaminated, it is timely for the community, including tradespeople and home renovators, to familiarize themselves with the NSW Heads of Asbestos Co-ordination Authorities Four Top Tips for safely managing asbestos during home maintenance, renovations and DYI.”
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Proper management of asbestos is important because of the significant impacts on your lungs that asbestos can cause in the longer term.
Asbestos becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in.
- Mark Giebel
“Asbestos can be present in many houses and buildings built before 1987 and most people can’t tell whether building materials contain asbestos just by looking at them,” Mr Giebel said.
“Asbestos becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. So it is important for everyone to take precautions and be aware of how to safely handle and dispose of asbestos.”
Mr Giebel also said that with recent changes to legislation, council and EPA can now issue on the spot fines of $15,000 for illegal transportation and disposal of asbestos, with maximum court imposed penalty of $2 million.
Asbestos Safety Tips
- If your house was built or renovated before 1987, it is highly likely to contain asbestos. Asbestos can occur in all sorts of places in the home, but especially in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
- Treat all products containing any amount of asbestos as potentially dangerous if disturbed and don’t DIY it.
- It is critical that asbestos waste is wrapped properly and goes to properly licensed landfills, so that it does not cause a health risk to people in the community. It is illegal to dump asbestos waste.
- Call the 1800 Asbestos Hotline on 1800 272 378, which provides free advice and guidance on asbestos-related issues in NSW.