Asbestos slate roofs are still widespread in Latvia

However, handing over asbestos-containing slate for disposal is relatively expensive, which not everyone can afford. Therefore, many people are faced with a choice: spend regarding 200 euros on the disposal of harmful coatings and find money to install a new roof, or live under a roof containing carcinogens.

Asbestos-containing building materials are still not uncommon in Latvia, and following the end of their service life they turn into hazardous waste that harms the environment by polluting the air, soil and groundwater.

“In different regions of Latvia, the amount of slate is different. If we consider the region around the capital, then here it is relatively small – up to 10 thousand tons, and if we consider Riga and more distant regions, then the amount reaches 49-53 thousand tons per region,” – says Atis Trace, director of the waste management department of the State Environmental Service.

Asbestos is found mainly in the roofing of residential, commercial and industrial buildings, and in Soviet times it was often used as a thermal insulation material. When getting rid of unnecessary roofing, many people prefer to grind slate to fill potholes on the roads.

“This is absolutely unacceptable. If the slate is on the roof or facade intact, then the danger is much less than if the waste is crushed or subjected to other physical impact. This releases dust particles, which pose the greatest danger,” explained Trace .