Redlands Coast residents and educators are being reminded about how to correctly dispose of the children’s sand products recalled by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last week.
The ACCC published a recall notice advising that the products may contain asbestos and were sold at various retailers across the country including Kmart, Target, Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art.
In accordance with safe asbestos disposal guidelines, this product is not permitted to be disposed of in any kerbside, public place or other non-asbestos bin. Placing this waste in any kerbside bin presents potential danger to drivers, recycling/waste disposal centres and to our community.
It should be disposed of at any of Redland City Council’s six Recycling and Wastes Centres – Birkdale and Redland Bay on the mainland, and on Coochiemudlo, Macleay, Russell and North Stradbroke islands.
Here’s how:
- Double wrap or place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag or use an asbestos disposal bag (available at hardware stores)
- Double tape (using duct tape) the bag securely
- Declare that you are disposing of asbestos when you get to the Recycling and Waste Centre (this is a legislative requirement)
- Unloaded by hand into the designated asbestos disposal bin.
Council has a small number of asbestos disposal bags available at Recycling and Waste Centres for residents if required.
The sand is brightly coloured and designed for children to play with and for educational purposes and, as set out in the recall, is labelled as Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg).
The products were recalled because they may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, which was detected in some samples after laboratory testing. Asbestos is a prohibited substance in Australia.
The products were sold throughout Australasia between 2020 and 2025.
The ACCC advises that customers who own any of the products should stop using them immediately and place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely and keep it out of reach of children.
The ACCC advises that “in an abundance of caution”, customers should take precautions such as a wearing disposable gloves and a P2 dust mask while disposing of the product.
Redlands Coast schools or education centres looking to dispose of larger quantities are requested to contact Council before taking the material to a Recycling and Waste Centre.
Local commercial suppliers of the sand and non-residents will be required to pay asbestos waste disposal fees, however limits will apply and businesses are requested to contact Council.
Redland City Council Libraries have removed the coloured sand from all public access areas and have safely disposed of the product.
For more information:
- Queensland Government qld.gov.au
- Redland City Council qld.gov.au/Waste-and-recycling
- ACCC recall notice
