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Key Points
- Mulch that might contain asbestos has been sent to ‘about 25’ Queensland businesses.
- Asbestos was detected in a compost stockpile at company NuGrow’s Ipswich site.
- Authorities are working to assess any risks to the public or NuGrow workers.
How many businesses are being tested?
“Agencies are contacting those businesses to identify where the mulch could be and to organise for it to be tested,” he told reporters in Cairns.
“We’re also setting up a hotline so that anyone who is concerned that they might have been exposed to the mulch can call and get advice directly from experts.”
Where was the asbestos found?
DESI said it was working with authorities to assess any risks to the public or NuGrow workers.
DESI said the site would be assessed and tested along with the air quality.
Who’s at risk?
NuGrow returned a positive result when more than 20 landfill operations, transfer stations, landscape suppliers, composters and mulch suppliers across southeast Queensland were inspected in response to a major Sydney asbestos contamination.
The company said testing detected “two fibres of bonded asbestos” in a sample taken from a soil stockpile at the facility.
“The safety of NuGrow’s staff, clients and the broader community is our utmost priority at this time, as always,” the statement said.
