In a concerning development, at least two dozen individuals have unknowingly acquired asbestos-contaminated mulch from a council depot in central Queensland. The Emu Park Transfer Station, located east of Rockhampton, was forced to close on Tuesday after asbestos was discovered within its substantial stockpile of free mulch.
This incident marks the first instance of contaminated mulch being detected outside of south-east Queensland, where similar issues have plagued the region since last month. The discovery follows a string of over 20 asbestos-contaminated sites, including schools, being identified in Sydney this year.
The Department of Environment and Science (DESI) is actively investigating the matter and collaborating closely with the Livingstone Shire Council and Queensland Health to evaluate potential risks to the public. The council has initiated efforts to locate the owners of 24 vehicles that retrieved the contaminated mulch from the transfer station since November 2022. The council has pledged to provide free removal services for the affected mulch.
In a related incident last month, asbestos was detected in a mulch stockpile at Ipswich, which had been distributed to numerous locations in south-east Queensland. DESI conducted testing at 23 sites in the region, with the NuGrow site in Ipswich being the sole facility to yield a positive result.
Subsequently, DESI expanded its testing efforts to encompass the rest of regional Queensland, but the extent of contamination remains uncertain. The NuGrow recycling center in Rockhampton has also tested positive for asbestos, although the contaminated material was confined to the site and not present in any products.