Environment - Significantly less asbestos produced in Thuringia
In Thuringia, the amount of asbestos waste from renovation or demolition work has recently been lower than it has been for a long time. In 2022, around 10,100 tons of the carcinogenic building material were registered, 5,000 tons less than in 2021, according to the Ministry of the Environment in Erfurt. In the past ten years, the figure has never been below 11,000 tons, and in 2019 it was as high as 18,000 tons. Renovations and demolitions are a major source of such waste.
Whether the low figures are an indicator of the decline in construction activity is "speculative, but not impossible", the ministry added. The disposal costs for waste containing asbestos amounted to between 90 and 350 euros, depending on the landfill site.
In Germany, the manufacture and use of asbestos was already banned in 1993. However, according to the Federal Environment Agency, many long-lasting asbestos products such as floor coverings or roof tiles can still be found in houses.
Trade union: Tens of thousands of buildings in Thuringia contaminated
The Industrial Union for Construction, Agriculture and the Environment (IG BAU) recently warned of the dangers of asbestos for construction workers in view of the expected wave of renovations. According to the union, asbestos building materials were used on a massive scale between 1950 and 1989. It can be assumed that there is asbestos in every building from this period - sometimes more, sometimes less. Around 144,000 residential buildings were built in Thuringia during this period.
In Erfurt, for example, 23 percent of all residential buildings in the city were built during this period, according to the local district association. Anyone living in a home contaminated with asbestos need not worry. Asbestos can only be released and become a problem during renovation work. The Thuringian Ministry of the Environment stated that it had no estimates of asbestos-contaminated buildings.
Press kit IG Bau
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- The reduction in asbestos waste in Thuringia is not solely due to less construction activity, but also due to stricter environmental regulations, as stated by the BMU.
- Despite the ban on asbestos production and use in Germany since 1993, numerous buildings in Thuringia, such as those in Erfurt, still pose a risk of environmental pollution due to asbestos-containing construction materials.
- The construction sector in Thuringia, including demolition work, is responsible for a significant amount of asbestos waste, which the ministry is working to reduce through increased awareness and safer handling procedures.
- With the expected wave of renovations, the IG Bau emphasizes the importance of proper safety measures and training for construction workers to prevent exposure to harmful asbestos fibers during demolition and reconstruction projects in Thuringia.
Source: www.stern.de
