Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Before its dangers were known, asbestos was often used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on ceilings and walls. It is now banned for use in Australia and most of the modern world. If you are looking to safely dispose of asbestos then there are a few procedures to follow.
Before we get to that though, let’s look at why asbestos even exists in the first place!
In Australia, asbestos products have been mainly used in commercial and industrial settings since the late 1800s for fireproofing, soundproofing and insulation. Some products were also used in houses and may still be found in houses built before 1990.
Asbestos cement materials were first manufactured in the 1920s and were commonly used in the manufacture of residential building materials from the mid-1940s until the late 1980s. During the 1980s asbestos cement materials were phased out in favour of asbestos-free products. From 31 December 2003, the total ban on manufacture, use, reuse, import, transport, storage or sale of all forms of asbestos came into force.
Many houses built before 1990, therefore, contain asbestos cement materials, especially in the eaves, internal and external wall cladding, ceilings (particularly in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries) and fences. The price of getting rid of asbestos can vary wildy between proivders so be sure to obtain multiple quotes and check licences.
As a General Rule, if your house was built before the mid-1980s it is highly likely that it has asbestos-containing products, between the mid-1980s and 1990 it is likely that it has asbestos-containing products, and after 1990 it is unlikely that it has asbestos-containing products
Asbestos waste means all asbestos material, commonly known as ACM, as well as the disposable items that have been used during asbestos removal procedures including overalls, respirators, cleaning cloths and plastic sheeting.
You as a sole individual cannot transport and dispose of asbestos yourself, it is against the law. A registered and licensed asbestos waste transporter can supply you with a plastic-lined skip or bin for disposing of asbestos and asbestos waste. When the job has been completed, the plastic that was used needs to be pulled over the top and sealed with duct tape or something similar. Asbestos Waste transporters can be located under ‘Asbestos removal and/or treatment’ in the Yellow Pages, or via a quick Google search.
Asbestos Disposal
Asbestos can be taken to landfills (more on that below) but it must be wrapped in manageable-sized packages in thick (200-micron) plastic and taped at the seams. Large hardware stores or building suppliers should sell this type of plastic.
- To arrange the disposal of asbestos you need to contact your local council to determine the nearest legal disposal site.
- Asbestos waste can only be disposed of in predetermined locations.
- Asbestos waste needs to be dampened, wrapped in 200um thick plastic sheeting and sealed firmly with tape before transported to a disposal site agreed to by your local council
- The asbestos waste needs to be clearly marked with a label as ‘ASBESTOS WASTE’
- The asbestos waste needs to be transported in a roadworthy, covered and leak-proof car
It is worthwhile to keep the copies of receipts from where you disposed of the asbestos waste as you may need to later prove this to the Environmental Protection Agency
Asbestos Transport Licence Requirements
An Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence is required for prescribed activity 3(5) “Waste transport business (category A)” when transporting asbestos for fee or reward, i.e. commercial transport. This applies to both friable and non-friable asbestos.
The domestic transport of asbestos does not require a licence.
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping means the disposal of waste on public or private land or into the water without a licence, permit or approval from the relevant authority such as the EPA or local council.
If caught illegally dumping, there are some significant penalties. For individuals, the penalties can go as high as $500,000 or four years imprisonment. For a corporate body, the penalty can be as high as $2 million.
Safety Tips When Working With Asbestos
When working with asbestos, there are numerous safety procedures to follow, This includes wearing protective clothing as well as facial masks. Check out this fact sheet for more detailed clothing instructions.
If you’d like to know more about the safe disposal of asbestos then head to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. Waste transporters are required by law to report the movement of 100 kilograms or 10 square meters of asbestos to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you are yourself looking to register as a licenced asbestos wase transporter you need to research the relevant authorities in your area to register with them.
The Environmental Protection Agency has created a brochure entitled ‘safely disposing asbestos waste from your home.’ This brochure contains the information for the correct handling, storage, transport and disposal of asbestos waste.