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The following radio spots in Nauru address the proper and safe way to address potential asbestos containing materials in the home, school and workplace, recommend the elimination of the purchase/acquisition by local stores of asbestos containing materials. These radios spots are aimed at raising awareness in a fun and memorable way and encourage listeners to understand and properly handle these materials in their environment. These radio spots are part of a broader effort to promote awareness on both issues in Nauru.

PacWastePlus assisted Nauru to manage asbestos waste undertaking abatement activities, and implementing the Region’s first importation ban on asbestos. This short video summarises activities completed.

Asbestos-containing materials are a major issue for Nauru with an estimated 212000 m2 if asbestos containing materials in buildings, primarily in form of asbestos-cement in roofing and cladding and stockpiles of waste.

Nauru’s Department of Environment Management and Agriculture determined the removal of existing asbestos containing materials at the Nauru landfill would be the most useful activity, as this would manage a current health risk to workers and provide an opportunity for government to confirm the real cost of management of asbestos containing materials through packaging and transporting to New Zealand for landfilling. The asbestos containing materials were stored in degraded shipping containers near the main access to the landfill. Tasks implemented were (1) emptying the existing five containers of the asbestos containing materials, (2) repackaging the materials to international standards into new containers, (3) performing biohazard controls compliant with shipping internationally, (4) fully cleaning / remediating the storage containers so no residual asbestos fibres remained, (5) shipping the asbestos containing materials to New Zealand for disposal, (6) ensuring controlled landfilling of the transported materials. Numerous difficulties were experienced during the contract, but these were all overcome with cooperation, a creative approach to the work, a good understanding of the issues, and considerable perseverance.