The Rockhampton Regional Council has confirmed that after 26 April 2013, Gracemere Landfill in Queensland will no longer be accepting asbestos, material containing asbestos and other hazardous waste. This is because the landfill is coming to the end of its life and therefore will no longer be able to fulfill the requirement of having such hazardous waste buried at least 2 metres under ground.
This requirement for burying asbestos is extremely important to ensure that nobody is dangerously exposed to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos is a major health risk which can lead to people contracting asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma in Queensland and asbestosis in Queensland unfortunately is at a relatively high level as compared to incidences around the world. Mesothelioma in Australia is also at a very high level comparatively.
