What is Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. There are three main types
asbestos? of asbestos, commonly referred to as:
white (chrysotile);
blue (crocidolite);
and brown (amosite).
White asbestos was by far the most widely used form, however many
products are a mixture of more than one type. Inhalation of asbestos fibres
can cause lung disease and cancer due to the action of the fibres on the
lining of the lung.
Asbestos is considered either unbonded or
bonded. Unbonded asbestos is fibrous or
damaged / broken bonded asbestos.
Bonded asbestos in good condition is
normally relatively safe. The fibres from
unbonded asbestos can easily become
airborne and so is considered more
dangerous than bonded.
Regulatory requirements
1
All photos are reproduced from the HSE website and guidance.
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Working with Anyone working with asbestos has to comply with the Control of Asbestos
asbestos Regulations 2012.
There are some thermal treatment processes that can decompose certain
asbestos wastes to a non-fibrous state or vitrify it to a safe glass-like
material. Any treatment of asbestos waste requires an environmental permit.
Treatment activities also require a licence from the HSE (Health & Safety
Executive) depending on the activity undertaken. However, there are
currently no commercially available permitted asbestos treatment activities in
England or Wales.
The HSE provides guidance on this in an approved code of practice:
Managing and working with asbestos
Disposal at Guidance for the acceptance of asbestos in landfills for disposal can be
landfills found at: http://publications.environment-
agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO1110BTEW-E-E.pdf.
2
This would exclude asbestos removal companies - see Schedule 25 Part 3 Paragraph 3 for full
requirements.
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Labelling
Suitable Asbestos waste bags and containers should be labelled with the asbestos
markings warning sign. Mark vehicles and packaging in accordance with the
regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods.
Storage standards
3
see: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/39737.aspx
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Pictures from HSE guidance EM9 Disposal of asbestos waste
Handling asbestos
Handling There are always risks associated with the transfer of asbestos waste. To
asbestos avoid the risk:
Wherever possible deliver waste asbestos directly to landfill, this
minimises unnecessary double handing. A secure container must be
used.
Where cement bonded asbestos is delivered direct to landfill it must be
stored in a secure skips. Wrapping of asbestos sheets would not be
required if the skip is lined and the sheets are covered with plastic
sheeting to minimise contamination of the skip and spread of asbestos in
loading, transporting and emptying of the skip.
Store fibrous asbestos in the container double-bagged.
Where cement bonded asbestos is not delivered direct to landfill and is
stored at a transfer station, introducing double handling, cement bonded
asbestos must be double-bagged or double-wrapped (if in large pieces).
Item Guideline
1 Asbestos wastes must not be put into bays or transferred between
different skips or containers.
2 Make the deposit at a transfer station with the minimum of handling,
either manual or mechanical.
Loading shovels must not be used to move asbestos waste.
3 Keep skips secure and locked when asbestos wastes are not being
deposited in them.
4 Operators must have emergency procedures to deal with non-
conforming asbestos wastes that arrive at the facility.
Non-conformance includes wastes received that are not properly
contained in bags or skips, for example unwrapped asbestos sheets
and open skips.
Sites should also have the capability to deal appropriately with non-
conforming waste and spillages, for example from broken bags.
Records must be made of non-conforming wastes
5 Do not use a skip that has been used to store asbestos wastes for
non-asbestos uses, unless they are verified as clean. Otherwise the
skip must be fully decontaminated.
See http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste26.pdf for guidance.
List of Waste Hazardous asbestos wastes can arise from a variety of sources and,
(LoW) codes therefore, may be described under a number of List of Waste (LoW) codes.
The most likely examples of hazardous asbestos wastes are set out in the
table below.
Coding and classification of hazardous wastes is described in technical guide
WM2 but usually if a waste listed in the table below contains more than 0.1%
asbestos it is hazardous4.
Where discreet, identifiable fragments of asbestos are found within a waste,
the asbestos and the other constituent of the waste should be considered as
a mixed waste, coded as two distinct wastes. Each of these should be coded
and classified individually in accordance with WM2.
The requirements of the Hazardous Waste Regulations apply to the
hazardous asbestos wastes listed in the table below.
Asbestos waste Relevant Hazardous LoW Codes and Descriptions
source
Asbestos – usually 17 06 01* insulation materials containing asbestos
fibrous and
insulation products
Asbestos – bonded 17 06 05* construction materials containing asbestos
or corrugated
Asbestos-lined 16 01 11* brake pads containing asbestos
brake shoes
4
A waste that contains less than 0.1% asbestos may still be hazardous where it has been deliberately
mixed to lower the concentration of asbestos.
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