HOW TO DISPOSE OF CORRUGATED ASBESTOS SHEETS

Getting rid of corrugated asbestos sheets is a dangerous activity if you don’t know the correct procedure for disposing of them. Asbestos sheets are a health risk, especially when they are old and broken. They contain hazardous asbestos fibers that are dangerous when inhaled as dust because they can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. In this article, we look at how to best dispose of corrugated asbestos sheets safely and legally.

Do NOT Do the Disposal Yourself

As mentioned, items containing asbestos are a health risk. As such, you should not carry out the disposal process yourself since you will put your own life and that of others at risk. Instead, you should seek the services of a private asbestos removal contractor or a licensed asbestos abatement professional.

You are not allowed by the law to handle asbestos-containing materials yourself. You shouldn’t disturb such materials in any way; otherwise, you could be fined or penalized. It’s important to note that this is a requirement in most countries globally, and care should be taken not to easily trust sources that encourage you to dispose of corrugated asbestos sheets yourself.

Asbestos.com informs us that rather than disposing of corrugated asbestos sheets ourselves, we should seek the services of an approved asbestos professional:

“While you can find information online about do-it-yourself asbestos abatement, it is highly recommended that you do not attempt to disturb asbestos-containing materials in any way. If you find friable asbestos products in your home, you may carefully wet them to prevent them from releasing fibers until you can get a licensed professional to assess your home. These professionals are highly trained and certified to follow all federal and state laws governing asbestos abatement and disposal. If you don’t hire a professional, you are likely to break one of the many laws that regulate asbestos, and you run the risk of facing a serious fine or penalty.”

Ensure the Professional Handles the Corrugated Asbestos Sheets with Utmost Care

Once you have found a licensed asbestos abatement professional or private asbestos removal contractor, you should ensure that they follow the state and federal laws on asbestos removal. The contractor should practice minimal disturbance by avoiding cutting, breaking, or dropping the sheets to eliminate or reduce the chances of asbestos dust hanging in the air. Ensure also that all the pieces are carried away.

AnyJunk explains the various ways you should ensure that the asbestos-containing sheets are handled carefully:

“You should wear gloves, a dust mask, and safety goggles and place the asbestos into plastic bags. Also, try to avoid breaking it into smaller pieces, because this will create asbestos dust, and it is these dust particles that are the dangerous bit.  Asbestos is generally safe unless broken. If you do need to break it, or this happens accidentally, the best thing to do it is spray water on it to minimize the dust particles.”

At GreenBagPickup, we offer various waste disposal solutions tailored to your needs. Reach out to us to see what we can offer you.