Asbestos Disposal

Disposal of material containing asbestos

Asbestos is a hazardous material that was used in most Australian buildings before the late 1980s. This lightweight material was fire-resistant, making it a popular building material. Since 31 December 2003, asbestos and all products containing asbestos have been banned throughout Australia.

If your home or building was built before the late 1980s, there is a good chance it may have asbestos. It may be also be found in materials used in old cars, machines and telecommunications boards. Asbestos removal treatment and disposal requires identifying the kind of asbestos found on the premises, which may be divided into:

• Non-friable asbestos (also known as “bonded”)
  This asbestos material is usually bonded to a solid material, such as cement or vinyl. You may see it used as cement sheets and vinyl floor tiles. When sealed, undisturbed and in good condition, these asbestos-containing materials are considered very low risk as they will not release asbestos fibres into the air.
• Friable asbestos
  These asbestos-containing materials can be crumbled and reduced to a powder when dry through hand pressure alone, making it easy to release asbestos fibres. Friable asbestos products may be found as loose fill insulation and asbestos rope.

Handling asbestos contamination must be done using professional and certified asbestos removal service.