More schools close as asbestos-contaminated sand recalled across Australia

SEVENTY schools will shut on Monday as a widening recall of coloured sand products contaminated with asbestos escalates.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued recall notices after laboratory testing detected tremolite asbestos in several children’s sand products sold between 2020 and 2025.

The recalled items include Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand, sold at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art.

ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said the commission had been working with major suppliers.

“We have engaged with Officeworks who is a major supplier of these products and they advised that the products have been removed from sale,” Ms Lowe said.

“We urge customers who own any of the products to stop using them immediately and place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double tape it securely and keep it out of reach of children,” she said.

“When doing so, in an abundance of caution, customers should take precautions such as wearing disposable gloves and a mask.”

School closures have been confirmed in the ACT and at one Brisbane school as further checks continue.

More than 100 South Australian sites have also reported the products, though no schools there have been closed.

Authorities said respirable asbestos fibres have not been detected in current testing and the assessed health risk remains low, but urged schools and families to take precautionary steps.

Consumers are advised not to dispose of recalled sand in household bins and instead take the products to authorised asbestos disposal facilities listed by the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.

Updates to the recall notice will be published as more information emerges.

Last year the NSW Government completed a major investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, prompting inspections at more than 300 sites across the state.

Seventy-nine locations, including parks, construction areas, schools and hospitals, were found to have used contaminated mulch.