How To Dispose of Asbestos In Scotland?

Homeowners are already terrified just by the use of the term “Asbestos.” However, if you’re unfortunate enough to find asbestos in a building, getting rid of it is quite easy if you know what you’re doing. Our best piece of advice on how to properly dispose of it is provided below.

#1. Handle Asbestos Disposal Carefully

Asbestos was prohibited in the UK in 1999 due to its extremely dangerous properties. Therefore, anything constructed after that date is probably fine. However, there is a possibility that asbestos may be present if you’re buying a property built before 2000 or performing home improvements.

If asbestos is discovered, hiring a qualified asbestos removal specialist with the necessary training and tools is the best course of action. If you do choose to relocate the asbestos yourself, though, please take caution. Asbestos should be placed in plastic bags, for instance, while wearing gloves, a dust mask, and safety eyewear. Additionally, avoid breaking it up into tiny pieces as this will only create asbestos dust, and it is the harmful asbestos dust particles that pose a threat. Unless it is damaged, asbestos is usually safe. The best course of action is to spray water on it to reduce the amount of dust particles if you do need to break it or if it happens accidentally.

Remember that handling any asbestos in the building is the homeowner’s duty, not yours if you rent rather than own the property.

#2. Dispose Of Asbestos Waste By Yourself

One of the cheapest and most easy ways to dispose of asbestos is to pack the bagged material into your car and drive to the nearest landfill, granted you have access to a vehicle. However, it’s crucial to consult your local government first.

Some municipal guidelines suggest having asbestos removed by the municipality or by a commercial contractor rather than disposing of it yourself. However, there are some local authorities where you can bring it and they will only allow you to bring certain items/amounts.

#3. Use The Asbestos Collection Services Offered By Your Local Authority

Most local authorities offer discounted collection services, which are typically much less expensive than hiring a private removal company. The disadvantages include the fact that there is frequently a limit to the amount that may be taken and that you might need to wait at least a week to schedule a collection time. Consult the environmental health officer in your area for guidance.

#4. Hire A Professional Asbestos Removal Contractor

Hiring a professional contractor differs from using the authority’s collection and disposal service in terms of speed and cost. Private contractors will certainly be much more expensive, but they can usually complete collections within a few days, if not on the same day.

We advise only choosing professionals who are members of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association, despite the fact that this is not required by law. Although being a member of this major trade group is not a guarantee of service quality, it is a strong indicator of the providers’ professionalism and dedication to compliance and health and safety.

They must acquire a Hazardous Waste Carriers Licence and abide to BOHS P402 Standards regardless of whether they are an ARCA member. Additionally, once they start removing the asbestos, they are required by law to give you a Hazardous Waste Consignment Notice, which is a written record outlining what is being removed, the location, the time, and the parties involved in the transfer.

#5. Consider The Costs

As a homeowner, disposing of asbestos at your local landfill is usually absolutely free.

Choosing the local authority collection service is a more expensive, safer, and practical approach. Depending on the local government, this will cost homeowners a different amount, but because it is subsidised, it will be less expensive than hiring a private contractor.

For instance, Richmond Upon Thames charges £44 to remove up to 200kg of asbestos, while Essex Council charges £40 to remove up to 40kg.

If you want asbestos removal more quickly than the local authority can provide, the following are some examples of prices for a private collection service:

• An asbestos waste-sealed bag costs £50. (per bag)
• Removal and disposal of a residential water tank cost £200

As you can see, expert removal is expensive, but it’s much safer to allow asbestos removal by a qualified professional.

Jettison Express is a junk removal service, not a law firm, a consulting firm, or a government agency. We did not include a variety of extra regulations, cautions, and exclusions that may be important to your specific case because this guidance is intended to be a practical summary for the majority of users. We advise seeking independent legal counsel or, at the least, getting in touch with the Environment Agency for a proper discussion if you need more specific information or a clear understanding of the laws and regulations controlling garbage. In other words, kindly refrain from suing us—we are only trying to help!