Licenced asbestos remover Roger Nance said he was often called to clean up asbestos illegally dumped on roadsides, but understood why some people were risking public safety.

“The issue is there is nowhere to dump it ... the closest for us is Southern Waste Depot near McLaren Vale, “ he said.

Murray Bridge council is not licensed to accept asbestos at its waste depot.

Waste depots at Tailem Bend and Cambrai only accept asbestos that has been removed from the Coorong and Mid Murray council areas.

Mr Nance said the lack of disposal sites and high dumping costs were causing illegal dumping.

“I have people coming to me because they have nowhere to dump it ... if you’re doing renovations at home you have to know where to take it,” he said.

He called for Murray Bridge council to take steps to have its waste depot licenced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr Nance said people who were dumping asbestos were unlikely to be properly licenced because Worksafe SA and EPA regulations required contractors to keep extensive records.

Riverland asbestos remover Watts Asbestos has called for the EPA to work with councils to establish more dumpsites.

Murraylands councils have reported illegal dumping to be a regular problem.

Murray Bridge council infrastructure and technical services manager Martin Waddington said it was not a constant problem, but it was a problem.

“When it happens it is of great concern because whoever is dumping it puts themselves and the public at risk,” he said.

“I don’t think the lack of a tip is the reason for it, the person who dumps asbestos at the roadside isn’t going to bother taking it to a licensed tip.”

Mid Murray and Karoonda councils said illegal dumping was also occurring in those areas.