What is asbestos and how has it been used?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous silicate mineral. It’s non-flammable and insensitive to heat and many chemicals. Due to its high elasticity and binding capacity, it can easily be processed into countless products. Asbestos products can be roughly divided into two categories: friable and non-friable asbestos products.

Non-friable asbestos products such as cement (e.g. Eternit) have a greyish, homogeneous and hard surface. Friable asbestos products, on the other hand, have a softer surface and can be recognised by clearly protruding fibre tufts at broken or cut edges. The individual fibres of products made from friable asbestos can be easily released into the air, so they are especially hazardous to a person’s health. Friable asbestos was used to produce materials such as pipe lagging, insulation boards and sprayed coating for making steel more fire retardant.

Don’t let the dust settle: how to dispose asbestos safely

National and regional waste disposal regulations must be complied with when disposing asbestos waste.

Please note that in order to transport asbestos waste, you need to have a waste carrier’s license. You also need to use designated disposal areas, only. It’s best to have a specialist company to help you with asbestos disposal. They have the necessary know-how and can take the necessary safety measures when removing and transporting asbestos waste. All items from the hazardous area that can’t be cleaned are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. You also need to compile a Waste Consignment Note and keep it for at least three years.

Improper handling, can be a serious health hazard and you might have to pay a fine for failing to dispose of asbestos properly and without the correct licenses.