1. Asbestos: Management in Tsunami-Impacted Countries
19 December 2006
In the ashes of conflict lie the seeds of regeneration.
UNEP Disaster Management Branch 1

2. Indonesia Tsunami: Asbestos Waste
Asbestos cement roofing fragments identified in tsunami waste (Banda Aceh) 2

3. Indonesia: Asbestos Controls
Indonesia imported 20,219 tonnes of chrysotile in 2004
Asbestos imports increased by 50% ( )
Manufacturing restricted to ACM roof sheets (and ceiling sheets)
Occupational health standard of 1 fibre/ml has been set
Controlled under Regulation on the Management of Hazardous Materials (No. 74, 2001,15); permits, labeling, MSDS’s, etc.
Management of Hazardous Waste (No.85, 1999) includes asbestos as classified as chronic waste
Crocidolite (blue) banned (and amosite ?)
No regulations on use of PPE and control limits for ambient air, soil or water have been identified 3

4. Maldives Tsunami: Asbestos Waste
Uncontrolled clean-up (dumping of tsunami debris in sea)
Attempted burning of asbestos fragments
Identified on all 28 islands visited by UNEP 4

5. Maldives: Hazardous Tsunami Waste Programme
UNEP/MEEW Hazardous Waste Clean-Up project (89 islands)
Hazardous wastes included ACM, oil, clinical waste, batteries, etc. 5

6. Maldives: Asbestos Controls
No ban on asbestos containing imports
Imports volumes are reducing (50,000m², 2004) primarily due to perception of material as poor-grade (“contaminated”)
No regulations regarding safe disposal of asbestos waste 6

7. Sri Lanka Tsunami: Asbestos Waste
UNEP survey (Feb 2006) identified widespread ACM waste in debris along entire impacted coastline (800km)
Pilot hazardous waste clean-up projects initiated in May 2006 at Tirrukkovil and Kalametiya 7

8. Sri Lanka: Hazardous Tsunami Waste Pilot Clean-Ups (May 2006)8

9. Sri Lanka: Asbestos Controls
Estimated that 75% of buildings in SL are roofed using ACM sheet
Crocidolite (blue) has been banned since August 1986
Tsunami reconstruction agency (RADA) has endorsed the use of ACM sheet (chrysotile)
UNEP review of health and safety equipment suppliers indicated that no P3 respirators were available in Colombo
Currently, no acceptable disposal options
Tsunami ACM problem (88,544x35m²x75% = 2.33 million m²) 9

10. Other Disasters: West Java Tsunami (17 July 2006)
ACM debris found at all sites visited
No hazardous waste clean-up projects have been started 10

11. Other Disasters: Central Java Earthquake (27 May 2006)
Yogyakarta and Bantul Area: 303,000 houses damaged beyond repair
Widespread use of ACM sheeting
ACM roof of tannery collapsed and dumped in adjoining field
No hazardous clean-up programme initiated 11

12. Other Disasters: Mount Merapi Volcanic Eruptions (June 2006)
Series of pyroclastic flows (16 June, 2 dead)
ACM debris found in debris 12

13. Disaster Reconstruction: Asbestos Use
Despite bans from a number of international donors (incl. UK and Australia) use in tsunami reconstruction widespread
Use promoted by reconstruction agency in Sri Lanka 13

14. Concluding Observations
Hazardous asbestos wastes have been generated in recent Asian disasters
Little or no asbestos waste clean-up programmes have been initiated
Reuse in reconstruction is widespread
Pressure for building materials may result in accelerated importation
General lack of asbestos awareness (public, national and international bodies), legislation, control, sampling & analysis, management, alternatives, PPE, waste disposal, etc 14