UK residents protest asbestos transfer station
Residents of Epsom protest the plan to create an asbestos waste transfer station in their hometown, worried that asbestos fibers will become airborne as the toxic substance is transferred to sealed containers at the transfer site.
The proposed asbestos transfer station site in the Chalk Pit currently houses a refuse disposal business that creates a big cloud of dust, an area of valid concern if the site is used to manually transfer asbestos from plastic bags to sealed containers. Residents were not informed of the plans for the transfer station because they lived outside of a 90 meter boundary, and public notice of the plans were published in a newspaper that does not serve the Epsom area.
Residents understand that asbestos must be disposed of somehow, but they have suggested that such activities should be handled in a regional center that is not located in a residential area. Abal Waste, which submitted the plans to the Surrey County Council, claims that their asbestos handling procedures would be carried out in responsible manner and highly regulated by the Environment Agency.
For the full story, go to Epsom Guardian.
