Parts of Kingaroy tip shut after asbestos illegally dumped
Parts of a South Burnett dump are shut after materials were found riddled with asbestos, with a DIY job possibly at the heart of the drama.
South Burnett
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Parts of the Kingaroy tip’s concrete recycling area have been blocked off after asbestos was illegally dumped at the site.
The South Burnett Regional Council said in a media release issued Wednesday morning the asbestos, which was contained within other materials, was thrown out by an unknown person at the site’s concrete recycling area at the weekend.
It was likely brought in as part of someone’s “DIY home renovation”.
“It appears that a person or persons … have brought in a couple of loads of broken tiles with fibrous sheeting and dumped the materials in two separate locations on the concrete and rubble pile,” a council spokeswoman said.
She said the person “may not even be aware they have been handling asbestos sheeting” at the time.
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The closed off areas will remain shut “until the materials can be safely removed and properly disposed of”.
“(Asbestos containing material) poses a serious health risk to all users of our waste facilities where (it) hasn’t been properly wrapped and sealed prior to bringing it to the Kingaroy Waste Facility,” she said.
“(The) council’s waste team is striving to remedy this site as soon as possible to ensure on-site disruption is kept to a minimum.”
Residents were urged to be aware of, and treat appropriately, any materials they may be dealing with at home.
“If you live in an older home built prior to 1990, there is a high probability that you may have some form of asbestos containing material in your home, the council release said.
“If homeowners are undertaking DIY renovations, then we urge everyone to take all precautions especially with fibro and fibrous sheeting used in wet areas, bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and the like.
“If you have vinyl flooring, older vinyl flooring may have asbestos backing on it.
“If you break or tear these materials, they can release invisible fibres into the air which can be inhaled.
“These items when not properly wrapped and disposed of, pose a health and safety risk to other users when they visit our waste facilities.”
The illegal dumping at Kingaroy comes two months after Gympie Regional Council was given an environmental protection order to clean up its Bonnick Rd dump after similar asbestos-laden materials were illegally dumped at the site,
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