Asbestos disposal in the voivodship (Polish administrative district) Lublin
Asbestos as a health risk: a challenge for Poland

In the past, asbestos was greatly appreciated as a building material until it was realised that asbestos dust posed a serious health risk. Switzerland is helping Poland to introduce a system for the monitoring and disposal of asbestos in the voivodship Lublin. It will also remove rubbish containing asbestos from illegal dumps and will renew the rooves of 6600 houses.

Asbestos is the generic term for a group of natural, fibrous silicate minerals. Because asbestos is draught-proof, heatproof and resistant to acid, is an excellent insulator and is relatively cheap, it was widely used in Poland, particularly for the production of asbestos cement products in the building industry. Today it is well-known that asbestos fibres that are released during the renovation, rubbing or weathering are a health hazard when they are breathed in. Even small concentrations of asbestos dust in the air can be carcinogenic. Poland therefore plans to dispose of all materials contaminated with asbestos by 2032.

New asbestosmanagement system in the voivodship Lublin
In the framework of its enlargement contribution, Switzerland will spend CHF13.2 million on the disposal of asbestos in the voivodship Lublin. This will improve the living conditions and the health of the population of Lublin, where there are still high concentrations of asbestos as a building material.

One regional and three small local offices will be set up to ensure that the asbestos is disposed of correctly. These offices will be responsible for identifying material containing asbestos and ensuring that it is neutralised. In recent years, material containing asbestos has often been disposed of on illegal dumps. The project will dispose of and neutralise 4500 tonnes of such material every year.



Renewal of 6600 roofs containing asbestos
House rooves covered with tiles made of asbestos cement are also to be renewed. As the asbestos weathers in the course of decades, there is a danger that fibres and dust will come loose and be inadvertently inhaled by those living in the houses. Material containing asbestos will be removed, taken away and neutralised. The new roofing will have to be paid for by the tenants, although poorer households will be able to apply for financial support. The Polish partners have opened up special credit lines with advantageous conditions to help such people. As a result of these measures, 45,000 tonnes of material containing asbestos can be permanently disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

Information about asbestos as a health risk
The Polish authorities will run an information campaign to raise awareness about the health risks posed by asbestos. It will focus on the dangers of illegal and incorrect disposal. It will also suggest solutions and show how asbestos can be safely disposed of and neutralised.

Further projects for the improvement of waste management in Poland
In total, Switzerland will contribute CHF 35.8 million to three Polish projects. In the framework of these projects about 14,000 households will benefit from the removal of asbestos.