Kentucky Garbage Company Ordered to Remove Asbestos

Louisville, KYLocal officials have ordered a Louisville garbage removal company to get rid of a large quantity of asbestos that has been sitting in its lots for months, according to WHAS11.com.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">The company, which went out of business after its owner was incarcerated in July, has been housing the material for more than six months, prompting numerous complaints from the local population about the wildlife attracted by the garbage and the health risks posed by the presence of asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos fiber has been linked to mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that attacks the protective lining of the body's internal organs.

The garbage is mostly building insulation from a Chevron warehouse that was destroyed by one of the company's partners. The trash is double bagged and sealed, and federal regulations require the prompt removal of the toxic material to reduce the risk of health problems.

"Any materials containing asbestos is a concern because of its link to lung cancer," said Matt Stull, a spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board, in a statement to the news provider. "So we take all of these complaints very seriously."