How To Dispose Of Asbestos Waste Safely
Asbestos was once widely used throughout the UK construction industry, which means it can still be found in many older homes and commercial buildings today. While asbestos-containing materials can sometimes remain undisturbed for years, they become a serious health risk when damaged, removed or disposed of incorrectly.
Whether you've discovered asbestos during a renovation, demolition or general maintenance work, knowing how to dispose of asbestos waste safely is essential. In this guide, we'll explain the risks involved, why asbestos requires specialist disposal and what you should do when asbestos waste needs to be removed from your property.
Why You Need To Treat Asbestos Carefully
Asbestos is extremely dangerous, and mishandling it can lead to serious long-term health conditions including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. The main problem is the invisible microscopic fibres that easily become airborne when asbestos is drilled, broken apart or otherwise disturbed. You will likely not even realise that you’re being exposed to these fibres. By far the safest thing to do is to not approach any asbestos without professional assistance and the right equipment.
Can You Dispose Of Asbestos Yourself?
If you’re wondering how to dispose of asbestos waste yourself, we urge you to take extreme caution for the reasons we just outlined. Asbestos waste removal should only be undertaken by professionals with proper equipment and training. Certain lower-risk materials can be removed if you follow strict guidelines, but it’s generally too risky to warrant doing so if you don’t have the necessary kit.
Why You Can’t Put Asbestos In Your Household Bins
Never use your household bins or any other kind of general waste for asbestos waste disposal. This is a major hazard and could result in severe legal repercussions. By doing this, you’re posing a major risk to waste workers, members of the public and the environment.
How To Prepare Asbestos Waste For Disposal
Asbestos waste needs to be carefully contained before it can be transported and disposed of. It should never be broken into smaller pieces simply to make it easier to handle, as doing so can release dangerous fibres into the air.
Asbestos waste should be securely double-bagged or wrapped in suitable heavy-duty polythene and clearly labelled to identify the contents. Appropriate PPE and respiratory protective equipment are needed when handling the material. Different types and quantities of asbestos may require different handling, so always seek professional advice rather than assuming that standard waste disposal procedures will be sufficient.
How Affordable Waste Services Can Help
The best advice we can give on how to dispose of asbestos waste is to make sure you stay well away and get a professional to handle the job. You need a licensed collection service with the training and equipment to get the job done safely. At Affordable Waste Services, we can provide professional asbestos waste disposal, helping you make sure hazardous materials are handled responsibly and disposed of properly.
We provide a fully compliant specialist collection service for bonded asbestos sheets, cement products, Artex and small quantities of non-friable asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). We can collect suitable asbestos waste that has already been double-bagged, or we can provide a double-bagging service where required.
Once collected, your asbestos waste will be transported to and disposed of at a registered UK facility. Our expert waste disposal team provides waste transfer notes for your records and will wear the appropriate PPE when handling asbestos waste, helping to minimise risks during collection and transportation.
Whether you have old Artex or asbestos-containing tiles, Affordable Waste Services can help you arrange safe collection. We serve Plymouth and the surrounding areas, so don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need assistance with asbestos waste disposal.
