Background

Various asbestos products, if in good condition and left undisturbed, poses little risk to human health. Removing asbestos products however can produce significant risks if proper safeguards are not put in place. These guidelines offer both general advice as well as information on statutory requirements so as to ensure the asbestos products are disposed of in a proper manner.

Where can Asbestos be Disposed of and what are the Charges?

The Manjimup Refuse Site, located in Ralston Road, Manjimup is the only facility in the Shire of Manjimup that will accept asbestos waste. Contact needs to be made in advance with the facility (phone 9777 2332) to make a booking. The volume of the waste will be calculated at the time and the tipping fee levied. Costs are $30.00 per cubic metre or part thereof. If a machine is required to unload the asbestos then the landfill contractor will charge $5.00 per lift. An asbestos disposal form will be made available by the Landfill contract staff to be completed at time of delivery. Asbestos will not be accepted without the completion of that form.

Do I need a Contractor?

If the asbestos waste is friable then a suitably licensed contractor will need to conduct the work. A list of contractors is held by the Construction and Engineering Branch of WorkSafe on phone 9327 8707.
For Asbestos Cement (AC) products, generally a contractor is not required unless considered under general demolition requirements covered outside of the scope of this document.
Most asbestos products may be removed by the home owner or by a handyman so as long as all precautions are taken. Major demolition works may already require a contractor with the necessary demolition license and would most likely be covered through the demolition license as issued through the Shire of Manjimup.

Notes on the Removal, Wrapping and Transport of Asbestos Waste

1. When AC building products are being removed, signs and barriers must be erected to warn of the danger and to prevent unauthorised people entering.
2. All people in the AC removal area must wear disposable coveralls and either a class Pl or P2 disposable mask.
3. AC sheets must be sprayed with a PVA (poly vinyl acetate) solution or kept wet with water during removal. Care must be taken on roofs because AC sheets are brittle and slippery when wet.
4. Non-powered hand tools or portable power tools incorporating dust suppression or dust extraction attachments designed to collect asbestos fibres must be used.
5. No powered tools are to be used on AC sheeting other than those to remove screws.
6. AC products must be removed with minimal breakage, and lowered to the ground, not dropped.
7. Removed sheets are to be stacked on polythene sheeting, then wrapped and sealed into bundles for disposal. Stack the polythene bundles on pallets so that the asbestos can be easily moved for burial without rupturing the plastic. Do not utilise bulk or "skip" bins for the disposal of asbestos unless you are prepared to have the bin containing the asbestos buried. In the case of large quanities of small broken pieces of asbestos bulk new or secondhand fertiliser bags can be used. These bags must be buried with the asbestos. Because of insurance liabilities staff at the landfill site will not allow tipping of loose asbestos.
8. Sheets must not be left lying about the site where they may be further broken or crushed by machinery or site traffic.
9. When removed sheets are being stacked, care must be taken not to skid one sheet over another, as the abrasive action will result in the release of fibres.
10. Roof gutters must be cleaned or sealed prior to the removal of the AC sheets.
11. Any AC visible residue remaining in the roof space or within the removal area is to be cleaned up, using an approved vacuum cleaner if necessary.
12. All waste containing asbestos is to be kept wet, stacked on pallets wrapped in heavy polythene or otherwise sealedand removed from the site as soon as practicable.
13. Used disposable coveralls and masks are to be placed in bags for removal with other asbestos waste.
14. On the outside of the polythene sheeting,disposable bulk bin or bulk bags, eligable letters at least 4cm high the words "CAUTION ASBESTOS" are to be written so that the contents are obvious to all those who come into contact with it.
15. When arriving at the refuse facility, you need to inform the attendant that you have asbestos to dispose of. Asbestos must be placed at the designated area within the landfill site. An appointment must be made for the disposal of large quanities.
16. It is illegal to supply or sell asbestos products to another person unless it is for the expressed purpose of disposal.

For further information, please contact the Waste Management Officer or the Environmental Health Officer on 9771 7743.

• Transport and Disposal Guidelines (draft)
• http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au - Type "asbestos" into the search box

The Shire of Manjimup is able to arrange for laboratory analysis of products suspected to contain asbestos. While visual inspections may give a fair indication of the likelihood of a product containing asbestos, this can only be verified by way of a laboratory examining the material under a microscope.

The cost for analysis is currently $55 GST inc. By prior arrangement, samples may be brought into the office to be analysed. It is imperative that the suspected asbestos be securely wrapped in plastic and the size of the material needed is approximately that of a 50c piece.

Please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer to make suitable arrangements prior to the submission of any samples. If you do not wish to handle the material, an appointment can be made with the Environmental Health Officer to collect it for you.