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Increasing health risks from exposure to asbestos has forced the operators of the Lawrie Road and Rustybrook Road refuse and recycling centres, to stop accepting all types of fibre cement board.
Mahurangi Wastebusters general manager Matthew Luxon says dumping asbestos-containing material (ACM) at any Auckland transfer station is not permitted, but it is still turning up at their refuse centres.
Fibre cement board, commonly used in building cladding, is the biggest culprit.
“Even though fibre cement board is no longer produced using asbestos, there is still a lot of older product out there that does contain it, and without lab testing it is virtually impossible to positively identify which is contaminated and which is safe,” Matthew says.
“The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and customers is our number one priority, so we’ve made the decision to ban all types of fibre cement board – it simply isn’t worth the risk.”
Asbestos-containing products are safe if left alone, but when cut or disturbed in any way the tiny fibres, which are up to 1200 times smaller in diameter than a human hair, can be released and breathed in for up to 30 days.
Breathing in asbestos can lead to life-threatening lung disease or cancer later in life.
There are more than 200 asbestos-related deaths annually in New Zealand.
With any building built before January 2000 likely to contain some form of asbestos, Matthew says he is concerned DIY enthusiasts are unwittingly putting themselves, their families and potentially his team at Wastebusters at risk.
“People undertaking home renovations should get the materials they’re working on checked before they start. Anything containing asbestos cannot be brought to our refuse and recycling centres,” he says.
If asbestos does turn up, Mahurangi Wastebusters must follow strict health and safety procedures to keep people safe. This could mean closing down operations until decontamination can be undertaken at huge costs, which would be on-charged to whoever dumped the offending materials.
People disposing of asbestos illegally could also risk being fined under health and safety legislation.
By law, asbestos-containing-materials of 10 square metres or more should only be handled and disposed of by a licenced removalist.
Northland Waste offers secure lined bags for small building and industrial needs.
If you have concerns about asbestos in your home, contact a health protection officer at the Auckland Regional Public Health Service on 09 623 4600.
Info: Ministry of Health health.govt.nz or New Zealand Demolition & Asbestos Association nzdaa.com
