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Recycling Leaded
Waste
by Robin Mosman, The LEAD Group
The disposal of lead-contaminated paint, ceiling dust and building
materials is becoming an increasingly thorny problem to government departments, which are
at this point in time still involved in lengthy discussions seeking solutions.
However, LEADLINE’s focus on lead and huge network of contacts on
all aspects of the lead issue gave it the necessary "big picture" view to see
business opportunities in this situation.
This happened when as a member of the Lead in Air working group of the
NSW Lead Taskforce in 1993, Elizabeth O’Brien went on a factory tour of the secondary
lead smelter in Sydney’s inner west. She had heard of lead being recycled from paint
waste in Canada, and on asking what minimum percentage of lead in waste (soil, dust or
paint debris) would be viable to recycle, was told I.5%.
Referral of interested people by LEADLINE has resulted in the smelter
now offering a service whereby they will take ceiling dust and leaded paint from
lead-abatement contractors, even at less than 1% lead. They charge $250 per tonne for this
service, but basically offer it as a community service, in recognition of their share of
responsibility for cradle-to-grave management of lead. They will also accept smaller
amounts from individual householders for free.
The smelter management see it as being in their best interest to help
manage the problem of lead in the wider community, and have applied to be licensed waste
processors with the NSW EPA.
LEADLINE is now able to refer lead abatement contractors to the smelter for the
disposal of the leaded waste they produce.
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