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What is asbestos waste? Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that was widely used to insulate buildings, piping and structures between from the 1950’s to mid 1970’s due to its non-combustibility and flame-retardant properties. Asbestos was also used as a reinforcing or binding agent in plastic, piping, cement and other construction materials due to its strength and flexibility. Asbestos waste refers to waste containing asbestos in a concentration greater than one per cent by weight. For safety and health reasons Alberta Environment recommends certain procedures be met whenever asbestos is present or suspected of being present in a friable material. A friable material easily crumbles under hand pressure and the more friable a material the more likely it is to release fibres into the air. For more information visit: Is asbestos waste hazardous? The Alberta User Guide for Waste Managers identifies asbestos waste as non-hazardous provided that it is managed according to the Guidelines for the Disposal of Asbestos Waste. The Waste Control Regulation further deems asbestos waste non-hazardous when generated from specific sources or in small quantities, specifically:
Where can I find information on the handling and management of asbestos waste? If you find friable (easily crumbled) asbestos-containing materials in a residence, building, or structure do not disturb these materials. Asbestos handling should be restricted to qualified personnel. During removal of friable asbestos appropriate procedures should be adhere to and personal protective equipment used to prevent the asbestos fibers from becoming airborne and being inhaled. Friable asbestos waste should be captured as soon as it is removed, bagged or encapsulated, taken to Class I or Class II landfills and buried immediately upon arrival at the site. Asbestos materials including waste when fixed in a natural or artificial binder material (i.e., in a non-friable form) is not subject to Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulationrequirements. When removing, handling, and transporting asbestos waste, occupational health and safety, transportation and environmental requirements must be respected. Comprehensive information on these requirements is available through the following documents and sites:
What do I do if I suspect the presence of asbestos? Alberta Environment does not handle specific proposals or plans regarding asbestos removal from a particular structure. When a contractor or owner of a structure becomes aware or suspects the presence of asbestos in a structure to be renovated or demolished, that person is required to file a notice with the Workplace Health and Safety Office Contact Center prior to disturbing or removing the asbestos from the structure. Companies that can perform asbestos testing are listed in the Workplace Health and Safety Consultant’s Directory available at www.worksafely.org. In addition, a list of asbestos consultants and waste service companies specialized in handling asbestos is available from the local yellow pages directory or by contacting the Environmental Services Association of Alberta at 1 800 661 9278 or 780 439 6363 or by visiting their website. Information on the availability of federal assistance programs for asbestos abatement activities can be obtained by contacting Environment Canada, Western and Northern region office, at (780) 468-8034. Who can I contact for removal of asbestos? Some private, indoor environmental companies specialize in removing asbestos as well as moulds and other toxic substances. For companies and services in your area, look under “Asbestos Abatement and Removal”, “Asbestos and Asbestos Products” and/or “Laboratories” in your Yellow Pages. |
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