Priority 2: Improving asbestos waste disposal

The safe and legal disposal of asbestos comes with costs. Social research conducted by the EPA as well as feedback from stakeholders identifies that cost and convenience of disposal facilities is a barrier to the safe and legal disposal of asbestos. 

Research has also uncovered that if asbestos is a surprise discovery during building work, unsafe behaviour is more likely.  That is, knowledge of where asbestos is before work starts is a driver of safer and legal disposal. Those who generate the waste (such as home renovators, tradespeople and developers) also need to be supported in understanding the role they can and should play in making sure that asbestos waste is appropriately disposed of.

Lead and partners

Co-lead: the EPA and DPIE (Planning and Assessment)

Partners: SafeWork NSW, Office of Local Government, Local Government NSW and relevant local councils

Outcomes

• Better identify asbestos before work starts.
• Better manage and dispose of asbestos through the development process.
• Make asbestos disposal easier and cheaper to dispose of legally.
• Ensure asbestos is regulated consistently across different types of development and building work.

Actions

5. The EPA will finalise the design and operation of a scheme which will contribute to reducing the harmful effects of illegally dumped asbestos within the community by waiving the levy from household amounts of bonded, wrapped and separated asbestos.
6. The EPA will undertake an assessment of asbestos waste infrastructure across NSW to identify immediate and emerging market shortfalls, and determine how we meet our critical infrastructure needs.
7. The DPIE (Planning and Assessment) will investigate updating the Managing Land Contamination Planning Guidelines SEPP 55- Remediation of Land (1998) to provide standard operating procedures for asbestos management and make guidance material on this easy to access.
8. The DPIE (Planning and Assessment) will review asbestos identification and management requirements across the range of development pathways, and investigate potential enhancements to improve consistency of approach across pathways.