Over recent years, 2,716 farmers have had their removed asbestos roofs collected free of charge by the public waste management agency OVAM.
The agriculture and horticulture sector still contains significant amounts of asbestos, with only 26% of farms classified as asbestos-safe, according to OVAM.
In 2021, a "sector protocol for asbestos-safe agricultural roofs" was established, allowing farmers to have removed asbestos roofs collected free of charge.
Since the protocol’s inception, 2,716 asbestos roofs have been collected, covering an area of over 1.7 million square metres, equivalent to 223 football fields, OVAM reports.
An additional 820 collections are scheduled, and with the new appeal, another 1,200 asbestos roofs can be collected.
Illustration image shows people showing protest messages attend a visit at the entrance of the plant of asbestos manufacturer Eternit in Kapelle-op-den-Bos by asbestos victims, Tuesday 23 June 2015. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Farmers must arrange for the removal of their asbestos roofs and the installation of new roofs themselves. They can subsequently have the asbestos cement waste collected free of charge by an OVAM collector, who will transport it to a licensed landfill.
Farmers need to submit an application for collection. Statistics show that in three-quarters of the cases, the roof is renewed.
During renovation and rebuilding, farmers can often utilise VLIF support and the Fluvius grant for the installation of solar panels on non-heated spaces, OVAM adds.
"By offering free collection, we help farmers remove their asbestos roofs safely and affordably. This is a crucial step in making our farms healthier and more future-proof," says Flemish Minister of Environment and Agriculture Jo Brouns (CD&V).
