Asbestos pick-up trial could put NSW public at risk, experts warn

Asbestos pick-up trial could put NSW public at risk, experts warn

The Minns Labor Government is launching a $16 million asbestos plan that includes a two-year trial to provide free asbestos waste pick-up and disposal for households. However, industry experts and advocates warn the initiative could inadvertently encourage untrained residents to remove the toxic substance themselves, risking public health.

The household collection program, funded by $9 million of the overall investment, is scheduled to begin in 2027. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe stated the trial aims to reduce illegal dumping, which costs councils millions of dollars annually, and to remove barriers for families who find correct disposal expensive or confusing.

The move follows a 2024 discovery of asbestos contamination in public spaces, including hospitals, schools, and playgrounds. Contaminated mulch was found at a site linked to a major Sydney outbreak in 2024, and further contamination was detected in schools and sand in 2025.

Industry warnings over safety gaps

Bret Baker, president of the Asbestos & Hazmat Removal Contractors Association (NSW), said there is a genuine risk that the public may view the announcement as an encouragement to handle asbestos removal personally. He argued that the government's strategy lacks emphasis on preventing exposure during the identification and removal phases.

According to Mr. Baker, the government has not specified critical operational details, including:

• Packaging requirements
• Eligibility criteria
• The types of asbestos that will be accepted
• Quantity limits for the free pick-up
• How the collection process will actually operate

Mr. Baker further claimed the government proceeded without consulting the licensed removal industry's peak representative body. He suggested the trial is a reactive measure to the 2024 mulch incident and fails to address underlying cost drivers, such as the NSW EPA waste levy applied to non-recyclable waste.

Personal toll and public risk

Mathew Klintfält, a member of the Asbestos Education Committee, expressed concern over the lack of detail regarding how the program will be rolled out. He noted that while the trial may prevent asbestos from entering red bins or skip bins, it does not address the danger of how the material is first placed into bags.

The risks are personal for Mr. Klintfält, whose mother, Carol Klintfält OAM, died in 2014 from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. He described the disease's massive delay in formation and warned that exposure does not need to be prolonged to be dangerous.

Mr. Klintfält highlighted the financial burden of professional removal, noting he spent north of $25,000 removing asbestos from his own home, which accounted for roughly 5 per cent of the build cost. He advocated for increased funding for safety campaigns targeting DIY-ers on social media, hardware stores, and programs like The Block, and suggested asbestos should be registered in building and pest reports.

Government and institutional support

The government maintains that the NSW Asbestos Plan of Action was developed through consultation with the NSW Asbestos Coordination Committee, the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Institute, workers, industry, and SafeWork NSW. The plan includes stronger work site training and controls to protect the waste stream.

The initiative has received support from several organizations:

• Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI): CEO Kim Brislane noted that over 4,000 Australians die annually from historical exposure and said the measures will help prevent more people from developing asbestos-related diseases.
• United Services Union NSW: Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM described illegal dumping as a scourge and stated that free disposal will help fix the problem.
• Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia: CEO Gayle Sloane called the plan an important step toward a nationally consistent approach.
• Waste Contractors and Recyclers NSW: Executive Director Brett Lemin stated the reforms have been more than 20 years in the making.

Asbestos was banned in 2003, but one in three homes built before 1990 still contains the carcinogen. The material was historically used in roofing, insulation, plumbing, building walls, and even hair dryers due to its fireproof properties.

The 18-page plan is currently available online, with the household collection trial set to commence in 2027.