The new operator of the Eketahuna transfer station has identified asbestos onsite. PHOTO/TOM TAYLOR
Eketahuna residents are advised to stay out of the main area of the town’s transfer station due to a discovery of asbestos.
The transfer station’s new operator identified the asbestos when they took over the contract this month.
Residents could still access the hook bins at the entrance on Marchant St but would not be allowed further into the transfer station.
Tararua District Council has asked residents with trailer loads to take them to the Pahiatua transfer station, a 25-minute drive north of Eketahuna.
Council infrastructure group manager Chris Chapman said the council was obtaining quotes from qualified contractors to come in and remove the asbestos.
“Ideally, it will be done in the next week or two,” Chapman said.
Smart Environmental took over the operation of the transfer station from Green Sky Waste Solutions on July 1 and quickly identified the potential risk.
“We then had it tested, which confirmed late last week that it was asbestos. That triggered us to make the site safe and isolate people from that.”
Chapman said Smart Environmental had found the small pile of asbestos covered in plastic wrap near the back boundary fence of the transfer station.
He said the health risk to people was very low considering its location within the transfer station, the fact it had been wrapped, and the relatively small amount of the material.
However, it did not meet the WorkSafe requirements for disposal.
“We are working with Smart Environmental to identify who is best-placed to remove it and will make it happen within the next week or two,” Chapman said.
Eketahuna resident Callum Skeet said it was fortunate he had already finished the bulk of renovations on his house.
In the past few months, he had deposited several trailer-loads from the renovations at the transfer station.
“It would be a pain in the bum to have to drive to Pahiatua, but it just might make people think about things a bit more in terms of what we do and don’t put out in the rubbish.”
