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Asbestos in the home

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was used in Great Britain from the 1950s through to the 1970s to make building materials stronger and fire resistant. The presence of asbestos in your home does not necessarily create a health risk but risks arise from the breathing in of microscopic asbestos fibres that are released through mishandling, or in areas where it is subject to heavy wear.

Removal and disposal of Asbestos

Asbestos must be removed and disposed of in a controlled and safe manner. The Council encourages householders to dispose of all types of asbestos through a licensed contractor. However, small quantities of Cement Bonded Asbestos, arising as a result of your own household maintenance and repairs can be taken to the Householders Recycling Centre. If you wish to dispose of your asbestos in this manner you must follow the advice and step by step guide given below:

Asbestos taken to the Recycling Centre must be contained in bags provided by the Council and sealed with tape to avoid the release of asbestos fibres.

Each household is limited to 2 free bags in a 12 month period. If the total amount of asbestos that you need to dispose of will not fit into the 2 bags please contact a licensed contractor for disposal.

Step by step guide

  1. 1)  Collect your free asbestos bags from the Council (see below for details).
  2. 2)  Plan your work so that the asbestos material is handled as little as possible and wear protective clothing approved for working with asbestos.
  3. 3)  Prevent other people from accessing the area of work and if possible work outside.
  4. 4)  Damp down the asbestos before disturbing it and do not drill, saw, grind or break up the asbestos.
  5. 5)  If dust is produced, damp it down and sweep it up. Do not hoover the asbestos as this may spread the dust around the area you are working in.
  6. 6)  Carefully place the asbestos into the bags provided and seal with tape so as no asbestos dust can escape.
  7. 7)  Dispose of any clothing that has come into contact with the asbestos in the same bags as the asbestos waste.
  8. 8) Take the bagged asbestos to the Recycling Centre and inform a member of staff of your arrival who will escort you to the asbestos container.

Please note: due to health and safety implications staff at the recycling centre WILL NOT assist with unloading asbestos from your vehicle or loading into the container. Therefore, you must be able to lift and carry the bagged asbestos yourself.

The asbestos container at the Recycling Centre has a letterbox opening which is 8 inches (20cm) high x 6ft (203cm) long. All waste must fit through this opening.

How to collect your free asbestos bags

Free bags are available for you to collect from the Council's Depot:

City Services
Nursery Lane
Fengate
Peterborough
PE1 5BG

In order to collect your free bags, you will need to provide proof of residency, a utility bill or council tax bill for example. If you are using a van or trailer to take your asbestos to the Recycling Centre you will need to apply for a permit for your vehicle. Permits are free of charge and can be applied for by contacting:

How to dispose of other types of asbestos

The following types of asbestos or asbestos from a non-domestic property cannot be disposed of at the Householders Recycling Centre and must be removed and disposed of by a specialist contractor:

  • Insulating board
  • Asbestos lagging
  • Sprayed asbestos
  • Other low density (crumbly/flaky) asbestos

Only Environment Agency registered and HSE licensed contractors and carriers are legally permitted to remove, handle, transport and dispose of these types of asbestos. The cost of legal disposal by the contractor should be included in any quote you receive. You can contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 to check whether a contractor has the appropriate permits.

For a list of registered asbestos disposal companies in your area, please visit the Netregs Waste Directory or you can consult your local Yellow Pages.