Having to close the East Coast's major waste transfer centre due to the illegal dumping of asbestos could not come at a worse time, the region's mayor says.
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Break O'Day Council closed the Scamander Waste Transfer Station on Thursday after a member of the public dumped asbestos material into a bulk general waste bin at Ansons Bay.
The bin was then transferred to Scamander where it has contaminated the site. The site's bulk compactor and walking floor are affected.
Mayor Mick Tucker said the contamination was disappointing, disgusting and pretty serious.
He said it would be "extremely hard to deal with" during the Easter weekend.
The cost is expected to be in the "tens of thousands" for the council.
"The financial cost worn by the community because of this very irresponsible behaviour is going to be gobsmacking," Mr Tucker said.
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The waste station will have to be completely decontaminated, which Cr Tucker said was highly unlikely to occur before Tuesday.
"There will be a lot of inconvenienced community members and holidaymakers because of this one very irresponsible person," he said.
"We will also be doing everything in our power to stop the disruption."
Cr Tucker said the council would do what it could to hold the person responsible to account.
"It's illegal and totally irresponsible. It's absolutely disgusting to think someone would be okay with putting lives at risk."
The council closed the site about 3pm on Thursday.
St Helens Waste Transfer Station remains open, but Cr Tucker expected there would be a stockpile of rubbish at the site because it is normally transferred to the Scamander site before being taken to Launceston.
The transfer station will be closed until at least Wednesday. Town litter and kerbside general waste collection services will continue, but prior to Wednesday there may be "significant service delays".