Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of a free asbestos disposal trial for households in New South Wales, which will begin in 2027.
“I’ve been calling for a new approach to asbestos disposal for years and have long advocated for the removal of the NSW Government’s waste levy for the disposal of asbestos at a licensed facility,” Mayor Byrne said.
“The NSW Government’s free pick up and disposal service is a huge win. One in three houses built before 1990 can contain asbestos in some form, as this material was once considered safe to use.
“If not handled or disposed of properly, asbestos is a dangerous material that can cause life-threatening health risks, including lung cancer.
“Illegal dumping of asbestos has been a major issue in The Hills for decades and this intervention by the Government will hopefully reduce this.
“Policing and investigating illegal dumping can be a challenging process and ultimately, if the perpetrator can’t be found, it falls on councils to remove it if the dumping occurs on public land.
“Given the public health risk, it is in everyone’s best interest for material containing asbestos to be properly handled and disposed of at an approved waste facility.
“The NSW Government’s free pick up and disposal service is a strong incentive for renovators and contractors to do the right thing and dispose of asbestos safely.”
While Safe Work NSW is the controlling authority, asbestos removal usually requires Council approval. For more information about asbestos removal, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for ‘Asbestos’.
