17/11/2011 - Permalink

Be safe with waste asbestos

Related topics: Community

Shropshire Council and their contractor Veolia Environmental Services Ltd are backing the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Hidden Killer’ campaign, and reminding residents to be safety conscious when disposing of hazardous asbestos waste from DIY projects. 

People wanting to take small quantities of asbestos to a Household Recycling Centre (HRC) must call the council in advance on 0345 6789 007.  Also, it is important that people disposing of asbestos:

  • Wear a dust mask and overalls
  • Keep sheets intact – never break them up
  • Wrap asbestos in strong plastic and seal
  • Ask the site staff for advice
  • Place the asbestos in the clearly-marked red skips

The HRCs will only accept small quantities of cement-bonded asbestos, such as from corrugated garage roofs.  If people have large quantities of asbestos, other types of the material, or asbestos from a commercial building such as a farm, they must hire a professional contractor to deal with this waste.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for waste, said:

“We have made provision for small quantities of asbestos from homes to be accepted at each of the HRCs in Shropshire, but it is important that people get in touch with us first so we can provide advice about safety.”

Donald Macphail, Managing Director of Veolia in Shropshire, said:

“Veolia take safety very seriously.  Any members of the public bringing this material to our sites should follow the guidance in the leaflet and seek advice from a member of our staff.”

For more information about the safe disposal of asbestos visit shropshire.gov.uk/waste  

There are five HRCs situated across the county.  These are manned facilities where people can recycle 30 different types of waste. These are:

  • Shrewsbury HRC (Battlefield Enterprise Park)
  • Oswestry HRC (Mile Oak Industrial Estate)
  • Bridgnorth HRC (Barnsley Lane)
  • Whitchurch HRC (Waymills Civic Park)
  • Craven Arms HRC (off Long Lane)

Waste containing more than 0.1% asbestos is classed as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, because it has the potential to harm human health.

All asbestos collected at the HRCs is taken to a landfill site in Telford for disposal as hazardous waste.

For more information on the HSE Campaign, people can visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm