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Auckland Council has set up a dedicated drop-off site for families needing to dispose of recalled children’s coloured play sand, after tests in Australia confirmed asbestos contamination in similar products and New Zealand authorities issued a national precautionary recall.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) first announced the recall on November 12, advising that EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) and Creatistics Coloured Sand (1kg) may contain low levels of tremolite, a naturally occurring form of asbestos.
The products have been sold in New Zealand through retailers including Paper Plus, Hobby Land, NZ School Shop, Office Products Depot, Discount Office, Acquire and Qizzle, with some online retailers, such as Kmart and Educational Colours also supplying them.
MBIE’s Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin said authorities acted quickly once they were notified.
“We are taking immediate precautionary action, while we establish the extent and risk of the potentially contaminated product,” Caplin said.
“We urge anyone who has bought these products, either for personal use or use in a workplace, to act immediately. Stop using the sand, contain it, secure it in a safe place and arrange for safe disposal through licensed professionals.”
Independent testing in Australia confirmed asbestos contamination in related products. New Zealand testing is still underway, but the manufacturer, Educational Colours, issued a recall as a precaution.
“Asbestos is a serious health hazard and we are working with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Education and WorkSafe to provide guidance for consumers and workplaces which may have bought these products,” Caplin said.
WorkSafe says the sand product is allegedly imported from China and can be used in classroom activities, as well as other decorative and craft uses at home.
“Asbestos contamination of this product has been confirmed in Australia via advanced testing (TEM), however at this stage the full scale of the issue is unknown – ie whether it’s an isolated or recent instance of contamination or a wider-reaching longer-term contamination event.
“Until further notice, coloured sand listed on MBIE’s Product Recall page must be presumed to contain asbestos. Contact MBIE for further details regarding product identification at this time. Workplaces where these coloured sand products are stored or used must take appropriate precautions.”
WorkSafe is contributing to the all-of-government response on this issue and is focused on supporting businesses to manage their risks and do the right thing.
Immediate advice for workplaces
- If the sand is in a sealed container, move it to a secure location away from people.
- If the sand is currently being used in your facility, please instruct everyone to leave the area, block it off and make sure it is not accessible. Do not vacuum or sweep floors where there is sand, or attempt to clean it up. Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation. Details of Class A licensed removalists are available in the Asbestos removal licence holders register. Do not return to the affected area until the extent of contamination is established, and after the area is remediated by an expert.
- If individuals are currently using the sand, they should put it down and relocate to a sand-free, well-ventilated area.
- If an educational facility has identified that the sand has been used at their facility, they should notify the Ministry of Education on 0800 323 323 that the sand has been used on site, and detail the actions that have been taken so far.
Auckland drop-off site now open for households
To support safe disposal, Auckland Council has opened a dedicated drop-off site for individuals and families at the Auckland Council Asbestos Lab on Kari Street in Grafton, located at the former City Parks Nursery depot.
The site is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 3.30pm, with parking available on site. Families are asked not to unwrap the product and to place their fully sealed parcel directly into the designated bins.
Auckland Council has been working with MBIE, WorkSafe, Health NZ and the Ministry of Education to coordinate a safe disposal pathway for households. Councils nationwide have been asked to assist, as asbestos-contaminated material cannot be placed in general rubbish or taken to standard transfer stations.
Justine Haves, General Manager Waste Solutions at Auckland Council, said the situation had understandably caused concern.
“We know that this has caused concern, and we want to reassure the community that MBIE, Worksafe, us and other agencies are working quickly to minimise the risk to Aucklanders. For those who have been affected, it’s really important that you follow all advice from these agencies and safely dispose of the product.”
Health NZ advises households to stop using the sand immediately, seal it in its container, place it inside thick plastic bags secured with tape, label it as asbestos-contaminated, and transport it carefully to the drop-off site. Households must not put the product in their rubbish or take it to a transfer station.
Workplaces and schools must follow separate rules
The Grafton drop-off site is for home environments only. Workplaces, early childhood centres and schools must follow WorkSafe guidelines. If the sand is in use, people should leave the area immediately, avoid sweeping or vacuuming, and contact a Class A licensed asbestos removalist. WorkSafe maintains a public register of licensed removalists on its website.
WorkSafe has also advised that anyone who may have been exposed during use must undergo personal decontamination, including the disposal of any contaminated clothing as asbestos waste.
More information:
Guidance for households is available through Health NZ.
Recall details are available on the Product Safety New Zealand website.
MBIE is providing updates on its site under: Recall expanded: samples of Kmart Magic Sand products found to contain asbestos.
