OVER six tonnes of asbestos has been collected from Hawkesbury homes as part of a free regional disposal scheme.
Council took-on the burden in partnership with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) and the NSW EPA.
The program ran between January and May offering free collection of up to 10 square metres of loose asbestos sheeting for the first 40 Hawkesbury households that launched applications.
Collections were carried-out by licensed asbestos removal contractors in May.
The 6.1 tonnes removed from Hawkesbury is part of 41 tonnes in total removed from homes across Western Sydney.
WSROC president Stephen Bali said the aim of the scheme was to help residents safely dispose of small amounts of fibro sheeting sitting in the backyard or behind the shed.
“When exposed to weather over many years these loose pieces of fibro can become brittle and begin to break down, releasing harmful asbestos fibres,” he said.
“Councils wanted to help remove this sheeting before it reached a high-risk stage.”
Information about asbestos and its disposal can be found on the Hawkesbury Council website at hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au (under the Environment and Health tab), or at asbestosanswers.com.au.