Asbestos News

A pile of asbestos-containing waste was recently dumped in the parking lot of a supermarket in Canley Heights, Australia, an incident that is becoming all-too-common in the area, according to the manager of the store.

The manager, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Fairfield Advance that illegal asbestos dumping happens on a regular basis in the parking lot.

"Every week we clean up piles of rubbish and by the end of the week it’s back again," the manager noted. "People treat it like a garbage dump."

The local council is reportedly responsible under the New South Wales Protection of the Environment Operations Act for investigating illegal asbestos dumping cases, a spokeswoman for the council told the news source.

She added that the council could take disciplinary action if necessary.

Illegal asbestos dumping can present a serious problem for those in the area, as the inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers can cause lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000 people die each year from such illnesses across the globe.