Do I need approval to remove a small amount of asbestos from my home?
No, you don’t. If you want to remove a small sheet of asbestos as part of a minor renovation, or because it is damaged, then you do not need approval. But remember, we strongly encourage you to use a licensed contractor for any asbestos removal, and if the quantity is greater than 10m2 in area, then you MUST use a licensed contractor.
Can I put asbestos in my garbage bin?
Definitely not! We know that this option is tempting from a convenience point of view, but adding asbestos to your garbage bins puts many unsuspecting people’s lives at risk, so please don’t do it!
From a legal point of view, placement of asbestos in your household garbage bin is an offence. By doing so, you are breaking the law; specifically, the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005.
Can I put asbestos out as part of the bulky waste pick up?
Definitely not! It is never OK to place pieces of asbestos in any public place, including out on the footpath as part of a bulky waste collection. In doing this you are placing Council staff and innocent people passing by at risk, as well as facing a hefty fine yourself. It also contaminates the local area and requires costly remediation work.
Am I allowed to transport asbestos?
If you have a small quantity of asbestos to dispose of, you are allowed to transport it to a licensed facility, like the Awaba Waste Management Facility. It should be wrapped in thick builder’s plastic, separate from other wastes, and should only be moved in a covered, leak-proof vehicle. We require at least 24 hours’ notice of disposal, and it can only be disposed of between 8am-noon, Monday to Friday.
For more information about transporting asbestos, have a look at the NSW Environment Protection Authority website.
Where can I take asbestos?
The only way to lawfully dispose of asbestos is to transport it to a waste management facility that is licensed to accept it. The Awaba Waste Management Facility is licensed to accept asbestos waste from within the Lake Macquarie local government area. We require at least 24 hours’ notice of disposal, and it can only be disposed of between 8am-noon, Monday to Friday. It must be wrapped in black plastic and separate from other waste materials. A minimum charge of $25 applies for the disposal of asbestos (up to $480 per tonne for 500kg or less).
Can anyone else help me with disposal?
You can try calling some asbestos removal/disposal companies operating in the area where you live. They are sometimes happy to swing by (when they are on their way to the tip with another load of asbestos) and add your small quantity to the pile. They will usually charge a small amount for this service, but it is often less than the minimum charge applied by disposal facilities and spares you the concerns associated with transporting the material.
You can also hire an ‘Asbestos Only’ skip bin, however, for the small amount you are allowed to remove (under 10 square metres), this may be an expensive way to go!
I found a small piece of asbestos in the soil in my backyard, what can I do with it?
In the past, it was not uncommon for asbestos waste to be buried in backyards. If you happen to find the odd piece, wet it down (from a distance) and, wearing gloves, place it in a sturdy plastic bag and tie it off. Place it in a second plastic bag and tie it off again. Place the bag in a sealed bucket or container out of harm’s way. It is illegal to place this waste in your garbage bin.
It will need to be disposed of in the manner addressed in the questions above. That is, at a disposal facility licensed to accept it or by paying a licensed contractor to take it away for you.
I found a large amount of asbestos buried in my backyard; will Council take it away?
Sorry, this is not something we can help you with. You will need to contact an appropriately licensed professional to undertake the removal of this asbestos.
Can I put asbestos in a skip bin with other building waste?
Definitely not! If you end up removing a small amount of asbestos as part of a minor renovation, you cannot add the material to a skip bin you have hired for the remaining construction and demolition waste.
There are lots of reasons why, including:
- The skip may be taken to a facility not licensed to receive asbestos.
- By adding asbestos, all waste in the skip will be classified as special/hazardous waste, and therefore you will be charged as if the whole load is asbestos (you don’t want to pay for heavy construction demolition waste at the asbestos gate fees – they are much more expensive than tipping clean construction and demolition waste).
- The potential to recycle the remaining construction and demolition waste is eliminated by adding asbestos to the skip – the entire load is contaminated, and no recycling will occur.
- By placing asbestos in a skip bin, you are placing staff who are involved in the collection and processing of the waste within the skip at risk.
Skip bins can be hired solely for the purpose of collecting asbestos. You should never mix asbestos with any other waste material.
Can I dispose of asbestos at the tip free of charge?
You can use one of your bulky waste entitlements to dispose of asbestos at the Awaba Waste Management Facility. You cannot dispose of any other bulky waste material at the same time, as it would become contaminated waste. While it is an option, the cost to dispose of a small amount of asbestos (less than 10m2 in area), is relatively small. If you choose this option, you will need to ensure you select the ‘Asbestos only’ voucher option when booking your collection. Find out more at lakemac.com.au/bulky-waste
If you have a large amount of asbestos, you need to use a licensed contractor for the removal and disposal of the waste.
What should I do if I see someone dumping asbestos?
Call the NSW EPA Pollution Line on 131 555. If you can record any details that will assist in the investigation of the matter, such as a car number plate or address of the offender, that would be great. Council will attend to the scene as soon as possible (we make these calls a priority) and arrange for the removal of the material. If we can catch them in the act, even better!
What can I do if I find some dumped asbestos?
Call the NSW EPA Pollution Line on 131 555. A Council Officer will visit the location as soon as possible (these calls are responded to as a priority) and cordon it off to protect the public. They will also gather any information to assist with identifying the person responsible for dumping the material. Council’s asbestos removal contractor will then attend to the scene as soon as is practical to remove the material. Dumping of asbestos is a serious offence, and even after the material has been removed by Council (to protect the public) the offender if identified, will be fined.
What are the fines for illegal dumped asbestos?
There are many penalties that can be imposed for people who illegally dispose of asbestos. The penalty imposed depends on the severity of the offence and many other factors that need to be considered carefully.
The main options available are:
- On-the-spot fines for transporting asbestos to an unlawful facility – $15,000 (individual) and $30,000 (company).
- Clean-up notices – These can be issued to instruct someone to clean up their waste (if they have been found to dispose of it in a public place). The fee attached to this is $803.
- Court action – If found guilty of unlawful transport/disposal of asbestos, in very serious cases the penalty can reach $1M for individuals and $4M for corporations. The fine imposed depends largely on the circumstances of the case.
Why is illegal dumping of asbestos an issue?
Dumping of any waste in a public place is not a great idea for many reasons, but dumping asbestos in a public place has added health and safety risks for the community, making it an even more serious offence.
Lawful disposal of asbestos at a licensed facility is not a cheap exercise, and it is thought that these disposal costs account for the high amount of asbestos dumping we see in our community. Avoiding tip fees, however, is obviously not a valid excuse when it comes to dumping a hazardous material in a public place, for any innocent party to stumble across. While the cost to dispose of asbestos might appear expensive to some, the cost to clean up illegal dumped asbestos and penalties for illegal dumping are much higher. Dumping of waste in a public place makes the area look terrible, can invite further dumping of waste and reduce community morale, so please don’t do it.