Asbestos found in compost at south-east Queensland waste site

Queensland’s environment department said a small amount of asbestos was found at a NuGrow composting site in Ipswich in a ‘joint targeted inspection’. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Asbestos has been discovered in compost at a south-east Queensland waste facility, after the dangerous material was detected in mulch at more than 60 sites across New South Wales.

Guardian Australia understands Queensland’s environment department undertook proactive testing at sites in the state’s south-east after asbestos was found at parks and public spaces in Sydney.

A small amount of asbestos was detected at an Ipswich composting site on 20 February during a joint inspection involving the asbestos safety unit of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ).

The site, owned by NuGrow, was one of 23 landfill operations, transfer stations, landscape suppliers, composters and mulch suppliers tested across south-east Queensland.

It has been the only positive result, with the department still awaiting results for half of the sites inspected.

Asbestos is prohibited from being accepted under NuGrow’s Environmental Authority. It is not clear what prompted the testing and where the asbestos came from.

The department has expanded its inspection program to include some additional sites outside south-east Queensland.

The department planned to test air quality in the area and has been working with West Moreton Public Health Unit and WHSQ to assess the risk, if any, to workers or the general public.

“We will immediately inform the community if any health risks are identified,” a spokesperson said.

NuGrow has been issued with a precautionary emergency direction to immediately take action to prevent the release of asbestos in the air.

The company must also provide information about where the material has been moved off site within the past 30 days and how it may have ended up in the facility.

“Out of an abundance of caution, action has been taken to impose requirements on NuGrow to protect health, safety, and the environment,” the department said.

“This includes WHSQ prohibiting NuGrow from disturbing the contaminated stockpile, and [the department of environment, science and innovation] ordering NuGrow to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent asbestos from being released into the air.

“Asbestos presents a very low risk when undisturbed, and when preventative measures, such as those being imposed, are taken to prevent its release.”

In a statement, NuGrow said the asbestos was detected in a soil sample and was bonded, which is a less dangerous form of the material than friable asbestos.

Two fibres of bonded asbestos were found in one of four samples collected from the Ipswich facility.

A NuGrow spokesperson said no airborne particles of asbestos were detected.

“The level of asbestos concentration found in the positive sample is extremely low, equivalent to what might be detected in a sample of sand, mulch or soil taken from any beach, garden, park or other public space,” the spokesperson said.

“There is currently no evidence to suggest that people who may have come in contact with this material are at risk.”

The spokesperson said the company “follows industry best practice regarding testing of our product ranges prior to approval for sale”.

“A review of in-house qualitative assurance monitoring results from samples of finished product over the last several months shows no asbestos detected.”

WSHQ has issued a prohibition notice preventing the distribution of the contaminated materials.

Waste contaminated with asbestos is not allowed to be used in the manufacture of compost or mulch in Queensland.

An investigation by Guardian Australia revealed last month that the NSW environmental regulator had known for more than a decade that producers of soil fill were failing to comply with rules to limit the spread of asbestos into the community.