Safely disposing of asbestos waste

Asbestos fibres are hazardous when inhaled. They can be released into the air when asbestos products are incorrectly handled, stored or transported for disposal.

Ensure asbestos waste has been wetted and sealed in heavy duty plastic prior to transportation to a lawful waste facility such as a licensed landfil.

Information on safe removal practices for asbestos is available at www.nsw.gov.au/fibro, SafeWork NSW and www.thinkasbestos.com.au

Legal requirements for managing asbestos waste

Revised regulatory requirements for managing asbestos waste commenced on 28 April 2008. These amendments were made under the Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Scheduled Activities and Waste) Regulation 2008 following significant consultation with industry and the broader community in 2007.  

The handling and storage of asbestos waste at worksites is regulated solely by SafeWork NSW under the current provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (OH&S Regulation).

The storage, disposal and transport of asbestos waste at non-worksites is regulated by DECC and councils where they are the appropriate regulatory authority under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 as follows:

• Waste must be stored on a premises in an environmentally safe manner.
  
• Bonded asbestos material must be securely packaged at all times.
  
• Friable asbestos material must be kept in a sealed container.
  
• Asbestos-contaminated soils must be wetted down.
  
• All asbestos waste must be transported in a covered, leak-proof vehicle.
  
• Asbestos waste must be disposed of at a landfill site that can lawfully receive this waste.
  
• It is illegal to dispose of asbestos waste in domestic garbage bins. 
  
• It is also illegal to re-use, recycle or illegally dump asbestos products.

1. bonded asbestos material means any material (other than friable asbestos material) that contains asbestos.

2. friable asbestos material means any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.

Guidance on asbestos management in the home is provided at www.nsw.gov.au/fibro and SafeWork NSW

Clean-up notices and prevention notices can also be issued by DECC and councils where they are the ARA under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 to address pollution incidents at premises relating to mobilisation of asbestos fibres, and where asbestos waste has been handled in an environmentally unsatisfactory manner.

NSW landfills which accept asbestos waste from the public are listed below by region. Landfills that have advised the Department of Environment and Climate Change that they do not accept asbestos waste from the public are not included.

Before taking asbestos the landfill  

Always contact the landfill beforehand to find out when asbestos is accepted and any requirements for delivering asbestos to the landfill.

As of 01 March 2018 asbestos waste generated in the Upper Hunter Shire Council area will only be accepted for disposal at the Aberdeen Waste Management Facility on Wells Gully Road.

Working with asbestos

Go to Working with Asbestos for more information.