Over the past three years, Tellus has accepted waste from the length and breadth of Australia.
We’ve had hazardous chemical and low-level radioactive waste shipped to our geological repository at Sandy Ridge from all over Australia.
Being asked to help clean up our own backyard was – despite the unfortunate circumstance – well, special.
Tellus has shipped more than 6 tonnes of mercury contaminated soil for safe disposal from Kalgoorlie, about 240km south-east of Sandy Ridge. In the context of remote WA, that’s right next door.
The mercury contaminated soil was removed from a residential address in Kalgoorlie. The demolition of the property followed. Police raids earlier this year that uncovered a suspected clandestine backyard refinery that used mercury to extract gold from ore. The contamination led to the closure of the neighbouring East Kalgoorlie Primary school.
In addition to transporting the contaminated soil to Sandy Ridge for safe disposal, Tellus provided assistance on assessment and classification of the waste, along with advice on packaging. After the site was cleaned up all primary school students returned back to school.
The ABC announced the reopening of the school here
Image courtesy of the ABC, supplied by WA Police