Hills Shire councillors call to end Asbestos Waste Levy, reduce illegal dumping

Fourteen illegal asbestos dumpings in two years has led to a group of Sydney councillors rallying for newly appointed Environment and Heritage Minister Matt Kean to remove costly waste levies on the proper disposal of the deadly materials.

Asbestos dumped at Mackenzie Blvd Seven Hills, near Hills Sports High School.

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Fourteen illegal asbestos dumpings across The Hills in two years has led to Hills Shire Councillors calling for newly appointed Environment and Heritage Minister Matt Kean to remove costly waste levies on the proper disposal of the deadly materials.

Liberal councillor Samuel Uno and Hills deputy mayor Alan Haselden called on Mr Kean and NSW Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock to remove the levies that are imposed on business and individuals who take proper steps to dispose asbestos at a licensed waste facility.

Hills deputy mayor Alan Haselden.

“We have seen the impact of what five fragments of asbestos can have on a local community,” Cr Uno told the Times.

“Five pieces of bonded sheet asbestos was found in a preschool in Baulkham Hills in November last year, sparking major concerns from residents.

“Parents want and expect the best for their children and the preschool was closed — despite the fact that we were assured the risk was incredibly minimal, the discovery of asbestos always causes panic.”

Asbestos dumped at Mackenzie Blvd Seven Hills, near Hills Sports High School.

Cr Uno said the NSW Government could “quite easily take steps to lower the chances of illegal dumping of asbestos”.

“Asbestos can affect anyone in our community and no asbestos is safe,” he said.

“But unfortunately the incredible cost to disposing it safely leads some people to dumping it illegally.

“Lets remove the barriers that make the disposal of this dangerous material more streamlined.”

Cr Samuel Uno. Picture: AAP Image/CRAIG WILSON

Illegal dumping occurs more regularly in rural and region areas, with several cases reported in Dural.

Cr Haselden said businesses are hit with “exorbitant surcharge on people trying to do the right thing”.

A NSW Environment Protection Authority spokesman said the agency recorded illegal asbestos dumping in Kellyville, Maroota, Cattai, Box Hill, Dural and Carlingford and the management of asbestos waste is a “key government priority due to the potential harmful impacts of exposure to asbestos fibres”.

Asbestos insulation.

“The NSW government and the EPA have implemented a number of initiatives to protect people and the environment from exposure to asbestos,” he said.

“The NSW government last year created a number of new offences relating specifically to asbestos waste, and increased penalties to $2 million for a corporation and $500,000 for individuals.

“Additionally, the NSW government and the EPA have exhibited the draft “NSW Asbestos Waste Strategy 2018-22” which proposes ways to promote lawful disposal of asbestos and reduce illegal dumping in conjunction with the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2017-21.”

The spokesman said the new strategy is considering is the removal of the levy on asbestos disposal to encourage more legal disposal of asbestos waste.

The Hills Shire Council received funds to support anti-dumping teams.

“This financial year the Western Sydney RID squad, of which Hills Shire Council is a member, received $472,175 funding,” the spokesman said.