Asbestos sheet removal

mahoney

Hi,
We've noticed there is a piece of asbestos in the garden which had gone unoticed until some tidying up was done. It's only about a metre by a metre or a bit more but it's near to the neighbours who have kids so we should get it removed. I've looked on the council website and whilst they give a link to people who can remove it, they don't seem to provide this service themselves.

Can you advise how to go about removing it and estimated costs ?

I'd rather not do it myself.

Thanks

wallbash

I'd rather not do it myself.

Why not ?
Personally I would break it up , double bag and stick in my black wheelie bin . I am of an age where we had sheets of the stuff at school in the science block, masses on the garage roofs and we ALL survived.

I would do my best not to cause any dust...... although the chances of blue asbestos is so remote to be untrue.

The only ones that make a fuss are those with a financial interest.

ps if any one starts to complain about this post , tell me how many die each year while handling the odd bit of 'white' board found in a garden in relation to those killed on our roads..... and we all drive every day!

muckybutt

Break it up ! !!!!!! what an absolutely stupid reply.

Statistics for asbestos related death direct from HSE 2011 - 2012
Deaths from mesothelioma (Mesothelioma register 2011) 2 291
Estimated asbestos related lung cancer deaths (2011) 2 000*
Deaths from asbestosis without mention of mesothelioma (Asbestosis register 2011) 429
Newly assessed cases of asbestosis (IIDB 2012) 980
Newly assessed cases of diffuse pleural thickening (IIDB 2012) 460
Estimated number of cases of non malignant pleural disease reported to specialist physicians (THOR/SWORD 2012) 686

Roads deaths cannot be compaired to asbestos related deaths, travelling on roads doesn't cause a long suffering cancer does it ? and yes I have know the pain that a close family member went through from mesothelioma. Your comment it totally ridiculous and stupid :mad:

Mohoney - ACM sheeting can be removed very easily and disposed of at most council waste recycling centers, ideally if you are concerned about it then wear the correct ppe like a disposable mask and gloves and coveralls if needed. Place the sheet onto a sheet of polythene and wrap it up sealing it in as you go along. Find out from the council which sites accept ACM material and take it there it really is as safe and as easy as that.

marleyd

Muckybutt -exactly right, most council amenity sites accept it, as long as it is from a genuine householder.
I wouldn't even think about breaking it up!!! Why would you????

PheoUK

Double bag and take it to the skip. Wear a proper respirator and gloves while your doing it. Spray it down with water beforehand. Don't break it up.

Just did the whole ground floors worth of floor tiles. Insulation board is more dangerous.

Lancastrian

Sorry but I'm with wallbash on this one.
We used to cut up big sixes to fit. We cut flat sheet to fireproof under wooden stairs. Truck brake linings all contained asbestos - and we blew them out with compressed air. Rawlplug had a hole filler which I am sure had asbestos as a component. (Sorry Rawlplug if I'm wrong - please correct me) Whatever it was it was good and I used it a lot.
Lads died of motor accidents or drink or smoking or old age. Never heard of one dying of asbestosis, at least not from the white one. The blue was a different story and less commonly seen.
I think some people read too much and believe the end is nigh.
Bag it - bin it and don't worry. The pen pushers send a lot worse to the tip but then they can because they are the rulers.
Good luck.

System

Most of the reported deaths are people who either work(ed) in the industry or handled large amounts of asbestos as part of their job.

I would think the risk of somebody contracting asbestosis from handling one item is akin to somebody getting lung cancer from being in proximity to one person smoking a single cigarette just to get some perspective

Fred56

OP.
1. Don't Panic. You have nothing to fear as things are and nor do your neighbours. First, you don't know it's asbestos containing material. There are many boards that look the same, they don't all contain asbestos. Secondly, if it is ACM and it's a board it is bonded, which is the term used when the asbostos fibres are bonded in a matrix like cement. It is not harmful unless the fibres are released. Just sitting there is not going to release the fibres.
2. To reassure yourself go onto the HSE website and find their guidance sheets on dealing with bonded asbestos. They are free and entirely sensible. It is not notifiable and you don't need a consultant or specialist contractor.
3. Do not break it for any reason. The guidance will be to double bag it seal and label it.
4. Call the local authority department that deals with waste. It is usually the county council or whatever equivalent you have. There will be a couple of nominated disposal sites that have a special skip to receive asbestos board from genuine householders. Disposing of trade asbestos waste is expensive so expect the council to be very vigilent to verify you are genuine. Make an appointment. Take the board in its double, sealed bag to the site. The attendant will open the skip and allow you to put it in.
5. If, for some idiotic reason designed to encourage fly tipping, the council have no sites then you can hire an asbestos skip from a specialist waste company. The last time I hired one it cost about £350, that was 2005.
6. Don't do anything daft like bury it. It will come back to haunt you in the shape of an environment agency prosecution and a bigger bill for remediation.

mahoney

Thanks for all the replies.

I know it shouldn't be broken up, so I'm not sure how I could double bag it without breaking it as it is too large for a black sack or similar.

I am concerned about it which is why I thought probably best to phone a contractor. However, if it is that dangerous I'm surprised that the council don't provide a service to come and dispose of it. I don't fancy putting it in my car tbh.

ariba10

If I was going to break it into smaller pieces, I would wet it completely to stop any chance of airborne particles and then break it.

Wrap it it in plastic or put the pieces in a plastic bag and then into a second bag to make it secure.

wallbash

Break it up ! !!!!!! what an absolutely stupid reply./QUOTE]

I stand by EVERY word.