Can You Put Asbestos in a Skip?
Asbestos must never be put in a general skip with other waste. It is a hazardous material, and if it is broken up or mixed with other rubbish, its fibres can be released into the air and breathed in by anyone nearby, including our drivers and the staff who sort waste. We can only accept asbestos by prior arrangement, in a separate skip, and it must be properly wrapped and handled by people trained to deal with it.
Why Asbestos Is So Dangerous
Asbestos was widely used in UK buildings until it was fully banned in 1999. When it is in good condition and left alone it is relatively low risk, but once it is cut, drilled, broken or crushed, it releases tiny fibres. Breathing these in can cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, which often appear many years after exposure. That is why it has to be kept whole wherever possible and sealed before it is moved.
Where Is Asbestos Found?
Any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos. Common places include corrugated cement roof sheets on garages and sheds, soffits and fascias, textured ceiling coatings, floor tiles, pipe lagging, boiler cupboards, old water tanks and some roofing felts. If you are planning a renovation, demolition or roof replacement on an older property, our guide on roofing waste explains why roofs are one of the most common places to find it.
Who Should Remove Asbestos?
Most asbestos removal must be carried out by a contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. Some lower-risk work, such as removing small amounts of asbestos cement in good condition, may be done without a licence, but it still requires the right precautions, training and protective equipment. If you think you have found asbestos, stop work, keep people away and get it tested and assessed by a qualified professional before doing anything else.
How Asbestos Waste Is Disposed Of
Asbestos waste has to be double-wrapped in heavy-duty polythene, clearly labelled and taken to a site licensed to accept it, with a hazardous waste consignment note to track it. It cannot be mixed with general waste or recycled. Some household waste recycling centres accept small amounts of asbestos from householders by appointment, so check with your local council if you only have a little.
Planning a Renovation or Demolition?
On older buildings, it is best to arrange an asbestos survey before work starts, so any asbestos can be removed safely before the rest of the job goes ahead. Once it has been dealt with, our skips and clearance teams can take care of the remaining waste. Our guide on managing hazardous waste explains how other dangerous materials are handled, and our guide on what you can put in a skip lists everything we can and cannot accept.
