Burgenland reviewing closed quarries as sites for asbestos landfills

Background: Asbestos finds in Pilgersdorf

A case had previously become known in Burgenland in which asbestos-containing rock material from a quarry near Pilgersdorf had entered circulation. The incidents had triggered a debate about how to deal with contaminated material and about appropriate disposal routes. Authorities and environmental organizations such as Greenpeace had called for swift clarification and safe final disposal options.

After the incident became known, the ministry set up a task force to address the question of how asbestos-contaminated material from quarries should be handled in the future. The task force is also examining the extent to which existing sites, such as the quarry near Pilgersdorf, could be considered for orderly landfill disposal.

The Environment Ministry stated that the planned amendment to the ordinance was intended to ensure that asbestos-containing waste could no longer be placed on the market in an uncontrolled manner. Instead, a clear legal framework for disposal was to be created. This is also linked to the expectation that affected communities and landowners would gain planning certainty.

Reactions from politics and environmental groups

Greenpeace fundamentally welcomed the direction in which the ministry was thinking, but at the same time called for strict conditions. The environmental organization pointed out that asbestos fibers posed a significant health risk if handled improperly. Disposal in decommissioned quarries could only be acceptable if the sites were hydrogeologically suitable and long-term monitoring was guaranteed.

The issue has been discussed intensively for weeks in the Pilgersdorf region and in other Burgenland municipalities. Residents had raised questions about the safety of disposal and the control of transports. Local politicians called for transparent information about the planned sites and about the origin of the contaminated material.

Outlook on the amendment to the ordinance

The ministry announced that the draft of the amended landfill ordinance would be sent out for review in the coming weeks. Concrete quarries could only be designated as landfill sites after the completion of this review and any necessary approval by the responsible authorities. Until then, the current legal situation will remain in force.

Christoph Lainer-Findeis, spokesperson for the ministry, told the APA that the concerns from the population were being taken seriously and would be incorporated into the further process. He also stressed that disposal in quarries was common practice internationally, provided that the geological and legal requirements were met.

Observers pointed out that the planned amendment to the ordinance could also be significant beyond Burgenland. In several Austrian federal states there are decommissioned quarries in which material suspected of containing asbestos has been found in the past. A uniform regulation could facilitate the handling of such cases and eliminate legal uncertainties.

It initially remained unclear how many quarries in Burgenland were specifically being considered for disposal. The ministry spoke only of ongoing reviews, without naming specific sites. No detailed information was yet provided on the volume of asbestos waste to be landfilled or on the planned safety standards.