PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Asbestos is a fibrous material which has unique physical and mechanical properties such as sound absorption, strength, flexibility and resistance to high and low temperatures. For this reason it was used in vast quantities in Poland for years until the 1980s when it was discovered that it was dangerous both to human health and the environment. According to estimates, between 1952 and 1997, 1.75 million tonnes of raw asbestos were used across the country for the manufacture of asbestos-containing products and in industrial installations. Today some 1.2 billion m2 of these products are still around causing serious health problems. According to the Occupational Medicine Institute in Łódź, 1,883 cases of asbestosis, 288 cases of lung cancer and 114 cases of mesothelioma were recorded for the period 1976-2002. In 1997 Poland imposed a ban on the use of products containing asbestos. This marked the end of the manufacture and use of such materials. The problem that remains is how to remove old asbestos products in a way that is neither harmful to human health nor the environment. In 2002, Poland launched a national programme for the removal of asbestos and asbestos-containing products (currently called “Programme of Cleaning the Country of Asbestos, 2009-2032”). While the programme has solved some of the problem, more needs to be done: in the last ten years only 10% of dangerous asbestos products have been removed.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFE KAMPANIA ANTY-AZBESTOWA project was to support and accelerate the process of removing asbestos through education and information campaigns and to monitor the progress of municipal programmes on asbestos removal. Specifically the aim of the project was to increase the institutional and individual awareness of asbestos and its negative impact on human health and to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders in solving the problem of asbestos removal in Poland. The project also aimed to promote good practices in terms of asbestos removal and promote and support the implementation of the "National Programme for Asbestos Removal 2009-2032".
RESULTS
The LIFE KAMPANIA ANTY-AZBESTOWA project carried out a successful campaign to raise awareness of the risks caused by asbestos and the need for public institutions and the general public to be more involved in asbestos removal. The16 Polish regions were covered by the project and all municipalities (2479 of them) were involved in the campaign. It is estimated that 1.5 million people were sensitised to the issue through 96 seminars held across the country for officers responsible for environmental protection and waste management in public administrations. Educational pamphlets, DVDs and brochures were distributed to owners of properties with asbestos. The posters created to raise awareness of the health risks posed by asbestos are to this day still being used in public places like schools, libraries and offices of public administrations.
To ensure that institutions and households were truly engaged in asbestos removal, local authorities had to create and implement local programmes for asbestos removal in support of the National Programme for Asbestos Removal 2009-2032, which aims for a total removal of asbestos by 2032. The project provided information and advice on methods for the safe removal of asbestos and this led to an increase in the number of local programmes being set up. During the course of the project 379 municipalities prepared their local programme. By 2014, 85% of municipalities had developed their programme for asbestos removal, compared to 70% in 2012.
The project also played a significant role in encouraging municipalities to provide funds for asbestos removal. In 2014, 1654 of them helped finance the removal of asbestos in private households (compared to 1051 in 2011). Meanwhile the number of households getting financial help for asbestos removal increased from 30 000 in 2011 to 171 000 in 2014.
The comprehensive educational material that was distributed during the course of the project addressed a wide range of issues such as the legal obligations in relation to asbestos removal, the health risks, examples of good practices of asbestos removal and financial issues.
By raising awareness of the risks associated with asbestos the project has contributed to better protection of human health and the environment. In terms of the impact on the local economy, the creation of new financial instruments like loans and subsidies to support asbestos removal has stimulated the waste management sector. In addition the campaign has increased the demand for the services of firms specialised in asbestos removal thereby creating jobs and stimulating investments in asbestos-free materials. The comprehensive approach used for the campaign has a strong demonstration value. The campaign covered the whole country and attracted a diverse audience through a variety of events that required the direct participation of stakeholders. It also relied on the massive distribution of educational materials, which addressed a wide range of issues. An important aspect of the campaign was that it hinged on the successful cooperation between an NGO and public administration, two entities not used to cooperating.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
