Asbestos News

Toothill, UK native Robert Marsh, 53, has been issued a fine of £500 after he admitted to illegally dumping a bag containing asbestos outside of a business, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Swindon Magistrates' Court heard that Marsh was seen removing the waste from his car on February 13, 2010. When the owner of the nearby business asked him what he was doing, Marsh allegedly drove away, the court heard.

At that point, the situation was reported to Swindon Council's Environmental Health Department, which prosecuted Marsh under a section of the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, according to the news source.

In an interview with environmental officials, Marsh explained that he had attempted to drop off the bag at a recycling center, but was told it contained asbestos and that he needed to pay to have it disposed of. Marsh claims that he had intended to retrieve the bag at a later date after dumping it but had forgotten to do so.

It is important that asbestos is handled and disposed of properly as exposure to the carcinogenic mineral can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.