Operators undertaking Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) 54 – Mechanical Waste Reprocessing Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) play a crucial role in ensuring recycled products are fit for purpose and safe for consumers.
Preventing contamination of recycled products, particularly asbestos, through effective sorting, handling and segregation is essential to ensure the safety of Queenslanders.
Are your recycled aggregate products safe from asbestos?
Are you and your staff well equipped to identify asbestos contamination, and to handle asbestos contaminated material appropriately through redirection, segregation and lawful disposal?
Do you test your recycled products regularly to demonstrate the success of your approach?
The environmental regulator within the Department of Environment Science and Innovation (DESI) along with the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) recently completed an asbestos in mulch inspection program which identified several operators with insufficient controls to prevent asbestos from contaminating green waste. These operators were required to improve their surveillance, staff training, and waste redirection procedures.
The environmental regulator undertakes regular inspections across a number of industries, including checking that appropriate controls are in place and taking samples of final products.
Operators at risk of receiving asbestos and asbestos contaminated material should ensure they review their procedures, training and resourcing to ensure asbestos can be detected early and re-directed away from the aggregate manufacturing and supply chain and is appropriately disposed of.
The environmental regulator will take strong action against operators who fail to appropriately manage the risk of asbestos contamination in different waste industries.
