Asbestos

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. Asbestos is a hazardous material that poses a risk to health by inhalation if the asbestos fibres become airborne. Exposure to asbestos fibres is known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. 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.

Click here to download an information sheet titled 'The requirements for asbestos disposal in the Shire of Manjimup.'

The information brochure includes the following information:

• General information about asbestos;
• Where asbestos be disposted of in the Shire of Manjimup;
• Pre-arrangement and arrival;
• Fees that apply; and
• Requirements for the disposal of asbestos (wrapping).

Where can asbestos be disposed of?

The Manjimup Refuse Site, located on Ralston Road, Manjimup is the only facility in the Shire of Manjimup that will accept asbestos waste. The site is open 7 days a week from 8.00am to 5.00pm and is located 3km from Manjimup (refer to the map at right). Contact needs to be made in advance with the facility (phone 9777 2332) to make a booking if the load cannot be unloaded by hand. The volume of the waste will be calculated at the time and the tipping fee levied. Please refer to our fees and charges for current costs. If a machine is required to unload the asbestos then the landfill contractor will charge a fee 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.

Requirements for the disposal of asbestos

If you need to dispose of asbestos, please contact the refuse site on 9777 2332 to advise them in advance. Upon arrival at the site please notify the site attendant straight away. You must bring cash and you will be issued with a tax receipt.

Any asbestos presented at that site for disposal must be:

The person depositing asbestos must fill out an asbestos disposal form prior to the material being accepted.

No tipping of asbestos from a tilt tray truck or utility is permitted.

For further information, refer below.

Do I need a contractor?

If the asbestos waste is friable (easily crumbled) then a suitably licensed contractor will need to conduct the work. For a list of contractors, check out the Worksafe website.

Most non-friable 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

• When AC building products are being removed, signs and barriers must be erected to warn of the danger and to prevent unauthorised people entering.
• All people in the AC removal area must wear disposable coveralls and either a class P1 or P2 disposable mask.
• 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.
• Non-powered hand tools or portable power tools incorporating dust suppression or dust extraction attachments designed to collect asbestos fibres must be used.
• No powered tools are to be used on AC sheeting other than those to remove screws.
• AC products must be removed with minimal breakage, and lowered to the ground, not dropped.
• 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 quantities of small broken pieces of asbestos bulk new or second hand 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.
• Sheets must not be left lying about the site where they may be further broken or crushed by machinery or site traffic.
• 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.
• Roof gutters must be cleaned or sealed prior to the removal of the AC sheets.
• 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.
• All waste containing asbestos is to be kept wet, stacked on pallets wrapped in heavy polythene or otherwise sealed and removed from the site as soon as practicable.
• Used disposable coveralls and masks are to be placed in bags for removal with other asbestos waste.
• On the outside of the polythene sheeting, disposable bulk bin or bulk bags, the words "CAUTION ASBESTOS" are to be written in legible letters at least 5cm high so that the contents are obvious to all those who come into contact with it.
• 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 quantities that are on a pallet and require machine lifting.
• 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 7777.

How do I know if waste material contains asbestos?

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 around $60.50 including GST. 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 requiring analysis is approximately the size of a 50c coin.

Please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer on 9771 7777 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.