Asbestos illegally dumped in the street as part of kerbside collection

Council is set to foot a bill worth more than $10,000 to clean up asbestos that was found dumped on the side of the road in Kin Kin this week, when Council swept the area as part of kerbside collection.

Director of Community Services Kerri Contini said the illegal dumping of asbestos in the street costs the community in more ways than one.

“Obviously, our kerbside collection team was quite horrified to find large sheets of broken asbestos amongst a pile of rubbish that was intended for kerbside pickup.

“Exposure to asbestos fibres poses very serious health risks, so to think that someone has just illegally dumped it in plain sight on the street like this as part of kerbside collection is very concerning for the community as a whole.

“Asbestos exposure has been linked to serious, terminal health issues which is why it requires a fully licenced asbestos contractor to handle and dispose of it properly,” she said.

Council is yet to finalise the exact cost of the asbestos clean-up but it’s expected to be around $10,000.

“We called in experts to dispose of the asbestos immediately, cordoned off the area, and followed procedures to ensure the safety of those involved.

“Council rolls out kerbside collection to give local residents a chance to easily dispose of or recycle unwanted goods and bulky items from their households, it’s unfortunate to see someone use it as an opportunity to illegally dump dangerous material.”

Under the kerbside collection process, residents can dispose of unwanted household goods such as furniture, discarded whitegoods and electronic equipment by placing them on the footpath edge for collection. 

“By dumping this asbestos they have put locals at risk, our contractors at risk and have cost rate-payers in the process,” she said.

A maximum of three cubic metres per residential property or six cubic metres total per unit complex is allowed under the shire-wide kerbside collection that concludes on September 6 in Noosaville.

Asbestos, batteries, gas bottle and chemicals are just a few items clearly identified on Council’s website that are deemed unsafe and not permitted under the kerbside collection program. For more information, visit the website.

14 August 2019