Shock revelation at waste facility at the centre of massive asbestos scare – as two more schools are added to list of contaminated sites
The waste facility at the center of the growing asbestos contamination scandal has previously been the subject of multiple asbestos contamination incidents.
The Bringelly site, in Sydney’s south-west, has been subject to four clean-up notices from the Environmental Protection Authority.
The location was not owned by Greenlife Resource Recovery at the time.
Greenlife has been named by the NSW government as the alleged source of the asbestos-contaminated mulch spread across NSW.
The hazardous material has been found in more than 30 locations, including in the topsoil of schools, hospitals and parks stretching from the CBD to the Emu Plains at the foot of the Blue Mountains, and from Parramatta to Campbelltown.
Asbestos was found in two more schools overnight, with Penrith Christian School, in Orchard Hills, and St Luke’s Catholic College, in Marsden Park, making the list.
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a potentially contaminated venue in Surry Hills being cordoned off, with a local pub manager saying they had not been notified of the situation.
Each of the asbestos-contaminated sites has been traced to the Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility at Bringelly in south-west Syndey (pictured), but the company denies responsibility
On Saturday afternoon, Daily Mail Australia witnessed another possible site of asbestos contamination at a busy intersection in Surry Hills, where red tape and signs warning ‘possible asbestos’ blocked several flower beds (pictured)
The affected mulch has reportedly been traced back to the Bringelly waste facility.
The EPA issued the four remediation notices when the site was not owned by Greenlife – the company only took possession of it in 2022 after taking over the lease from another waste management company Hi-Quality Waste Management.
In 2016, officers discovered asbestos fragments, along with pieces of plastic, asphalt, concrete and bricks, mixed with natural soil and rocks.
The latest incident occurred in 2020, when asbestos was found mixed with 8,450 square meters of waste material. The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told the newspaper the EPA was conducting one of the largest investigations in its history as the number of possible contamination sites continues to grow.
“There is clearly a problem and a regulatory gap in terms of how the asbestos got there,” she said.
‘It shouldn’t be there. It is illegal for it to be there. I want the EPA to get to the bottom of this investigation.”
Tracking down all contaminated mulch is a monumental task that requires combining supply chain data, CCTV footage and truck data.
EPA officials reportedly believe the job is more than 90 percent complete, but the investigation could take months.
The mulch pile at the Bringelly site has been closed while the investigation continues.
The owners of Greenlife, who bought the plant from another waste company, Hi-Quality Waste Management, in 2022, previously told Daily Mail Australia they were stunned by the scandal as their site had reportedly been given a clean bill of health by the Environment Protection Authority. EPA)
The duty manager at The Evening Star Hotel (pictured) said: ‘No one said anything – we were given no information whatsoever.’
But there are reportedly no test results showing the presence of asbestos in the mulch at the factory between March and December last year.
Greenlife said samples of mulch taken from its site during the relevant period were tested and found not to contain asbestos.
‘There are media reports suggesting that because Greenlife is the common source, it must be responsible for the asbestos contamination. That is not correct,” said a spokesperson.
The company said there are multiple different locations where their mulch is processed and that it could be contaminated after leaving the location.
“Many of the locations where the mulch is delivered are remediated sites, meaning asbestos was buried in those locations decades ago,” the spokesperson added.
Greenlife general manager Domenic Vitocco said he was concerned about the impact of the scandal on Sydneysiders.
“We, like everyone else, are extremely concerned about the discovery of asbestos in even one location, let alone multiple locations, and the impact this has on the people of Sydney,” he said.
Greenlife general manager Domenic Vitocco said he was concerned about the impact of the scandal on Sydneysiders
A Greenlife spokesperson said: ‘The site was subjected to extensive clean-up and remediation work, which was overseen by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
‘The repair work includes covering the site and installing staging materials.
“The cleanup and remediation work was accepted by the EPA before GRRF began operations.”
The detection of asbestos with two more schools brings the total number of locations with a positive result for the hazardous material to 34.
Education Minister Murat Dizdar said on Sunday that four more schools were still awaiting results, including Doremy School in Five Dock, Edmondson Park Public School, St Michael’s Catholic Primary School in Daceyville and Westmead Christian Grammar School.
Greenlife’s owners previously told Daily Mail Australia they were surprised by the scandal, as their site had reportedly been given a clean bill of health by the EPA.
“We feel like we’ve been scapegoated,” Vitocco said.
‘We are not yet entirely sure how this could have happened.
“All EPA tests came back clean from our yard. Our tests showed clearly and we are a little surprised at how this all happens.