Editorial: Dodgy disposal isn't an option

Countour Ltd was ordered to pay the Tauranga District Court $16,400 after they burnt cladding from a home knowing it had the potential to contain asbestos.

Considering we now know the dangers associated with breathing in asbestos fibres, the responsibility lies with every member of the community to make sure it's disposed of correctly.

The $16,400 fine Te Puna-based company Contour Ltd was ordered to pay in the Tauranga District Court this week is a good indication of how seriously the Bay of Plenty Regional Council takes the illegal disposal of waste containing asbestos, and rightfully so.

Asbestos has been proven to cause lung cancer and asbestosis and the penalty for putting people at risk of breathing it in needs to be a deterrent to others considering taking a cheaper and less time-consuming option for disposal.

Contour's company director, who removed cladding from a Bellevue home, knew it had the potential to contain the asbestos, but chose to ignore it. He probably would have got away with it, too, if a member of the community had not complained to the council whose staff found asbestos in the ash from the cladding's charred remains.

The price of removing asbestos is high and inconvenient, but not as high as the price paid by those who remove it incorrectly or are inadvertently exposed to it.

What is concerning is that the council's lawyer, Adam Hopkinson, told the court this was the first of three similar prosecutions before the court this year, and part of a growing trend across the country, possibly stemming from an increase in earthquake-strengthening work and rise in waste-minimisation costs.

It's everyone's responsibility to assist in ensuring asbestos is safely removed from our environment.

It shouldn't need to be a case of having to report dodgy disposal attempts.

If asbestos is found, or even suspected, there should be no other option but to ensure correct, and safe, procedure is followed.

I'm sure Contour's director is now regretting his decision to take the easy option, but hopefully his hefty fine and exposure will go a long way to preventing others making the same bad decision.