Updated asbestos stocks and flows model

24 Nov 2021

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) is pleased to announce the release of updated asbestos stocks and flows information for Australia – this updates model estimates from 2015.  

The update reflects new information from literature and industry experts. The model estimates: 

  • the amount of legacy asbestos remaining in the built environment (stocks) 
  • the quantity of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) reaching the end of their productive life and is now becoming waste or is in disuse (flows). 

The updated estimates show that in 2021, around 6.4 million tonnes of legacy asbestos remain in the built environment in Australia. This includes: 

  • 3.4 million tonnes of asbestos cement pipes
  • 1.7 million tonnes of asbestos cement sheeting (domestic) 
  • 1.0 million tonnes of asbestos cement sheeting (commercial).

Together, asbestos cement pipes and commercial and domestic cement sheeting make up around 95% of the remaining legacy asbestos in the built environment in Australia. 

This project was undertaken in partnership with Blue Environment. For more information, see the updated asbestos stocks and flows estimates infographic, and the 2015 Australian stocks and flows model.