Asbestos contamination threat: Your questions answered

A construction site at a top Queensland private school has been cordoned off and inspectors are racing to ensure 16 impacted businesses don’t move potentially asbestos-tainted soil received from waste company NuGrow.

A construction site at a top Queensland private school has been cordoned off and inspectors are racing to ensure 16 impacted businesses don’t move potentially asbestos-tainted soil received from waste company NuGrow.

Here’s everything you need to know about the unfolding contaminated compost concern:

WHAT’S HAPPENED?

A small amount of asbestos — two strands measuring no more than 3mm — were found in a sample from a large soil stockpile at troubled waste company NuGrow’s Ipswich site on November 20.

It is the only site in the state so far to test positive for the potentially deadly fibre amid a joint operation by the Department of Environment and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

The proactive targeted inspections were sparked by the asbestos mulch crisis gripping New South Wales.

IS THE PUBLIC AT RISK OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH CONTAMINATED COMPOST?

Authorities assure the risk is “very low” or “negligible” and they are taking a very precautionary approach in alerting the public to what they’ve found.

Four areas accessible to the public which have compost supplied from NuGrow have been identified as of 3.30pm on February 29.

Those are:

– St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School (compost used at a construction site 1.5km from main campus)

– Everleigh Dog Park in Greenbank (Mirvac confirmed park is under construction and has not been accessed by the public)

– Calamvale Special School (compost at construction site)

– Walloon State School in Rosewood (compost at construction site)

The list is expected to grow.

WHERE HAS COMPOST FROM NUGROW TRAVELLED TO, CONTAMINATED OR NOT?

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has narrowed down a list of 16 businesses which received compost from NuGrow since February 2.

This includes landscape suppliers, demolition, and construction companies.

The businesses are:

1. Jimboomba Town and Country

2. AGS Civil Pty Ltd

3. Apollo Landscaping Supplies

4. Brisbane West Earthmoving Pty Ltd

5. Centenary Landscaping Supplies

6. Diamond Landscapes

7. Direct Landscape Services Pty Ltd

8. Hervey Bay Garden Centre

9. HL Landscapes Pty Ltd

10. Hunmac Landscape Supplies

11. Landscape Solutions (QLD) Pty Ltd

12. Lantrak Logistics (QLD) Pty Ltd

13. QLD Bulk Landscape & Civil Supplies

14. Steve Jones Hardware Landscape Centre

15. Western Landscape Supplies

16. WMA Demolition

WHAT IF I BOUGHT COMPOST FROM ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES IN FEBRUARY?

If people have purchased soil from any of the businesses listed above since February 2, 2024 and are concerned it may have come from NuGrow, they are advised not to disturb the product, and contact the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation on 1300 130 372 for further information and advice.

WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE NOW?

WHSQ is racing to untangle the supply chain and determine where the potentially tainted compost has travelled to in the last month.

Businesses identified so far have been directed not to move the impacted soil off their premises — if it is still there.

Extra air testing will be conducted around the Swanbank area as soon as Friday.

More sites outside the southeast are also being tested.

The soil at St Aidan’s and the Everleigh Dog Park is being tested to check if it is contaminated with asbestos.

HOW MUCH ASBESTOS WAS FOUND?

Only two strands measuring between 1.5mm and 3mm were found in a large stockpile at NuGrow Ipswich.

But the Department of Environment and Science is taking a “very precautionary” approach in light of what is happening in Sydney.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYDNEY?

Contaminated material has been found across 54 sites in the city.

Parks and schools have been closed while hospitals and supermarkets have been fenced off in Sydney as a result of the widespread contamination suspected to have originated from a mulch manufacturer.

COULD THAT HAPPEN HERE IN QUEENSLAND?

The Department of Environment has noted the controls around mulch and compost in Queensland are “different” than in New South Wales.

DESI executive director Brad Wirth said “some of the processes in New South Wales that may have given rise to contaminants getting into products” differs to what happens in Queensland.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF ASBESTOS?

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of thin needle-like fibres. It is resistant to high temperatures and fire, and as a result was extensively used in Australia from the 1940s to 1987 when it started to be phased out.

A full ban came into effect in 2003.

According to the Cancer Council asbestos is extremely fibrous and the tiny fibres are easily breathed in where they can become trapped in the lungs.

Being exposed to asbestos increases the risk of developing cancers of the lung, ovary and larynx as well as mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lung). These cancers often develop decades after exposure to asbestos.

WHO IS NUGROW, AND WHY DO THEY SOUND FAMILIAR?

NuGrow is a family-owned waste management company which manufactures compost and runs recycling facilities across Queensland, including in Ipswich, Rockhampton, outside Dalby, and Bundaberg.

NuGrow is one of the companies at the centre over a stink that Ipswich residents claim is causing them health issues has been slapped with more than $45,000 worth of fines by the state’s environment department.

It is currently involved in a number of court cases, including against the Ipswich City Council and the state government.

Originally published as Asbestos contamination threat: Your questions answered