Residents Concerned about Proposed Asbestos Waste Sites
Residents in the English town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire County are up in arms about the potential opening of a waste transfer station in their town, especially given the fact that three-quarters of the waste will contain dangerous asbestos.
According to an article in The Star, Aspect Contracts has their eye on an old concrete depot as a place to store construction and demolition debris before moving it to landfills licensed to receive such toxic waste. Uncontaminated waste would be taken to recycling centers, the article points out.
Residents of the town, however, fear that the proposed waste site could endanger their health and some members of the community have begun a campaign to halt the plans. They have formed an organization known as RAAW – Residents Against Asbestos Waste. Members of the group hope they can convince the town council to reject the proposal.
The article notes that Chesterfield council members have already unanimously recommended to Derbyshire County Council that the plan be rejected as “the site is not considered to be an appropriate site for waste transfer uses because of its proximity to residential properties”.
Chesterfield Parliamentary representative Paul Holmes agrees.
“I simply cannot understand why anyone would choose to locate such a site not only very close to a residential area and a children’s play area, but in a flood zone at the centre of a large urban population,” Holmes told the local media.
“Every single lorry load of asbestos contaminated waste - 7,000 tonnes of material a year - would have to be trucked through the streets of Chesterfield, with its 100,000 plus population, and then out again.”
However, Aspect Contracts maintains that the landfill would be safe as would the transportation of the debris through the streets of Chesterfield.
“All asbestos waste is inspected and packaged and sealed in accordance with legislation and, as a result, no escape of waste, dust or debris occurs,” said a spokesperson from the company.
