Asbestos Problems
- Historic use of asbestos still causes over 5000 annual deaths in the UK alone (e.g. mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer).
- Almost all asbestos waste is taken to landfill.
- Hazardous landfill (cells) only shifts today’s problem to future generations.
- Roofing material is the largest share of asbestos waste (40% of landfill).
- Currently only one operational (pilot-) plant for processing asbestos roofing sheets in the world, which uses 100% natural gas and can only process specific asbestos material with little to no foreign materials (such as packaging).
- Estimated 80% of all farm buildings in the UK still contain asbestos.
- Estimated total of 1.1 billion m2 (50 Mt) asbestos-roofing material.
- Roofing material can be more than 60 years old.
- Weathering of roofing material causes asbestos to mobilize into the air and runoff water.