Correctly removing asbestos from your property

 

Are you planning renovation work in 2019 for your kitchen, bathroom flooring, or exterior? Before you hire tradespeople and get your plans underway, you need to ascertain whether or not you are dealing with any asbestos materials.

 

We all know that asbestos is a dangerous material – but how much do you really know?

 

According to the Western Australian Department of Health, asbestos is a ‘fibrous mineral that was widely used in the manufacture of building materials and other products. In Australia, the use of asbestos was phased out in the manufacture of building products through the 1980s and completely banned in 2003.’

 

Commercial asbestos comes in 3 main types in Western Australia – white, brown, and blue asbestos. According to the Department of Health:

 

“Asbestos can cause a number of diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen) and asbestosis (stiffening of the lungs).”

 

Asbestos may be present in your home in the form of wet-area fibrous cement sheeting, vinyl floor coverings and tiles, compressed high-density floor sheets, adhesives and dry powder mixes, profiled wall panels, imitation brick cladding, and more. If you are planning to remove asbestos yourself, you need to make sure you dispose of it in the correct manner. If you are not confident, you should look into hiring a professional.

 

Melville Bin Hire are Perth’s experts in asbestos disposal. Asbestos material must be:

• Separated from all other materials
• Wrapped in piles and taped to specifications
• Labelled appropriately

 

1.      Separate from other materials

 

As ordered by the Department of Environment and Conservation, asbestos materials must be ‘separated from other material for disposal where that is reasonably practical.’

 

This means that nothing else can go into a skip bin that is set aside for asbestos removal. If you are hiring a bin with the intention of using it for asbestos removal, you must notify us.

 

Melville Bin Hire are Perth’s asbestos removal experts, and we can provide bins for this purpose in a range of sizes. If you aren’t sure what size bin you might require, contact Melville Bin Hire and talk to us today!

 

2.      Wrap in piles and tape

 

Following the Department of Environment and Conservation guidelines, asbestos that is to be disposed of must be ‘wrapped or contained in a manner that prevents asbestos fibres entering the atmosphere during transportation by road.’

 

When you a skip bin from us to dispose of asbestos, please wrap the material in piles of no more than five sheets at a time in black builder’s plastic. Tape the plastic-wrapped piles with either cloth electrical or gaffer tape, ensuring the parcel is as tightly wrapped as possible.

 

If you need to dispose of asbestos and would like more information, contact Melville Bin Hire.

 

3.      Label wrapped asbestos clearly

 

Please ensure that parcels of asbestos are clearly labelled according to Department of Environment and Conservation guidelines:

 

‘Asbestos materials must be […] labelled or marked with the words “CAUTION ASBESTOS” in letters no less than 50 millimetres high.’

 

We are Perth’s preferred asbestos disposal experts – contact us for your asbestos disposal needs!