Another seven sites across the region have been identified as having received asbestos contaminated material from the same source that stopped work at the Calderwood development.
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Wollongong Recycling has now been ordered to clean up the new places as well, which include businesses, housing development, and private residences.
This brings to 11 the number of sites where aggregate contaminated with asbestos was supplied from Wollongong Recycling’s Kembla Grange plant between June and August, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said.
Among the sites identified was a contractor’s construction site in the “prestigious gated community” Cedars Estate at Avondale.
A landscaping supplies business at Albion Park and an organics supplier at Appin were also listed as subject to the clean-up orders.
Residential properties at Primbee, Helensburgh, Wongawilli and Mount Pritchard have also been identified after a public appeal.
The EPA said in its clean-up order that it “reasonably suspects” Wollongong Recycling had caused a pollution incident at the new sites, and the original four.
An EPA spokeswoman said Wollongong Recycling had “generally” been meeting its deadlines for removing the asbestos.
“The EPA has been monitoring compliance with clean-up requirements which includes ongoing reporting required by Wollongong Recycling under the terms of the clean-up notice,” the spokeswoman said.
“Wollongong Recycling is using an independent consultant and contractor to undertake works required under the terms of the clean-up notice. “Some transportation of the asbestos contaminated aggregate has been undertaken by Bingo where permitted.”
The asbestos contaminated aggregate was being disposed of at Veolia’s Horsley Park waste management facility in Western Sydney.
Read more: Calderwood asbestos – owners may sue
A spokesman for Bingo, the company which owns Wollongong Recycling, said it had completed its obligations at Calderwood on time.
“Wollongong Recycling has complied with the EPA notice in regards to the removal of waste at Calderwood with works completed on 26 October 2017,” he said.
When the Mercury visited Calderwood on Thursday afternoon there were still several large piles covered in plastic sheeting in the affected section. LendLease said this was not asbestos contaminated material.
The EPA spokeswoman said there were systems in place to ensure the asbestos waste was being disposed of properly.
“According to regulations, all waste containing asbestos must be registered through WasteLocate – this means the EPA can monitor the movements of the waste and ensure it is disposed of lawfully,” she said.
