A northern Tasmanian metal recycling yard had to partially shut down following concerns about lead exposure linked to dust generated by a shredder. Now the company is trying to resume operations.
A 'lead exposure event' forced the partial shutdown of a Launceston metal recycler, now it's trying to resume operationsRecycal's metal recycling plant in northern Tasmania was forced to partially shut down in February after the state's Environment Protection Authority found elevated lead levels in dust generated by a metal shredder.Recycal hopes to resume its operations, but workers are worried about what will happen to their jobs if this doesn't happen.
"It was really concerning that the kids had been potentially exposed for more than a year without anyone being notified. "However, they are within acceptable ranges and the organisation has controls in place to mitigate the risks," it said.Recycal's chief executive and managing director Douglas Rowe said communication was lacking from some government bodies."I'm not sure that hysteria is the best way to handle situations like this," Mr Rowe said.
The EPA claimed the stockpiling posed several environmental problems, including fire risks and waterway contamination. At the facility, scrap metal fed through a giant processor produced a by-product called shredder floc in the shredding process.But testing of Recycal's floc stockpiles showed metals, including lead, were present in the dust.
Level 2 waste includes low-level contaminated waste, while controlled waste is classified at level 3 and 4, depending on its composition.
Tasmania Hazards Lead Health Lead Poisoning Epa Scrap Metal Metal Recycling Recycling Waste Management Copping C Cell
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