Asbestos waste
You are advised to contact your local HWRC or Somerset
Waste Partnership on 01823 625700. There may be a charge for
collection and disposal.
Domestic:
New arrangements for the Somerset recycling centres that take
asbestos, plasterboard and related materials started on Monday 4
April 2016 to enhance safety, improve site security, cut
environmental pollution and ensure the full treatment costs are
met.
Both these materials require special handing - asbestos and
asbestos containing materials (ACM) as a significant health hazard,
plasterboard and plaster due to serious pollution risks - and are
complex and costly to treat. Somerset's asbestos is landfilled
and plasterboard recycled.
To avoid the inconvenience and security issues of handling cash,
a new online payments system on the Somerset Waste Partnership
(SWP) website at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk allows
residents to pre-pay to deposit asbestos and plasterboard.
Once payment is received, the resident is issued a receipt and
must then - for asbestos - contact one of the seven sites that
accept it to arrange a visit when there is adequate skip space.
Having agreed their visit, residents with asbestos must arrive
at the site with it carefully wrapped and sealed in heavy duty
plastic, and immediately contact staff to show their proof of
payment before unloading. Health risks mean recycling site staff
cannot assist asbestos unloading.
As hazardous waste, asbestos and asbestos containing materials
(ACM) must be carefully handled to avoid inhaling dust or fibres:
use gloves and masks and, if possible, do not drill, break, scrub
or saw asbestos. Damp down the working area to cut airborne
particles, and clear fibres with a damp cloth, bagging that with
the asbestos for disposal.
Residents should check how much asbestos or ACM they have, wrap
or double bag all materials in thick plastic, seal them with gaffer
or duct tape, then pay online and contact a site.
Unlike asbestos, plasterboard and plaster are safe to handle but
by law landfill must be avoided where possible, as the gypsum in
plasterboard reacts with buried organic material to create toxic
hydrogen sulphide and climate changing methane.
Residents do not need to book a recycling site visit to deposit
plasterboard or plaster but should pay, go to one of the 11 sites
that take plasterboard and show their receipt before unloading.
SWP is encouraging those with excess plasterboard or plaster to
save money and materials by recycling them through their supplier,
or to sell or give them away.
The charge for treatment of these materials is £4 per sheet or
equivalent sack of plasterboard or plaster and £12 per sheet or
equivalent sack of asbestos or ACM, with payment taken online by
credit or debit card. Minimum order: one sheet or sack.
Collections of asbestos and ACM from residents - which must, as
always, be sealed in plastic in advance - are available for the
treatment cost plus a fixed collection fee. This transaction will
go online in future but for the present, residents should call
01823 625700 to arrange this service.
Check the SWP
website for a guide to ACM items manufactured before asbestos
ceased to be used, from storage heaters and insulation materials to
floor tiles, fire blankets and flues.
Seven recycling sites take asbestos and ACM: Bridgwater, Frome,
Highbridge, Minehead, Street, Taunton, Yeovil.
Eleven recycling sites take plasterboard and plaster:
Bridgwater, Chard, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Frome, Highbridge, Street,
Taunton, Wells, Williton, Yeovil.
Commercial:
If you wish to dispose of commercial or industrial asbestos,
contact the Environment Agency on 01278 457333. If you are unable
to transport your household asbestos to a Household Waste Recycling
Centre please contact the Somerset Waste Partnership on 01823
625700.
Businesses can pay to deposit plasterboard or plaster at
some recycling sites - listed on SWP's website
- but business deposits of asbestos cannot be
accepted.
Asbestos Dumped:
I want to report the dumping of asbestos materials. Who
do I contact?
You can report this to us and we will arrange removal and
investigate whether an offence has been committed under the
Environmental Protection Act.
Report
fly-tipping of Asbestos
Shed Demolition:
I have a shed that I want to dispose of that may contain
asbestos, who can I contact for advice?
You can contact Somerset County Council, Scientific Services on
0845 3459188 who will be able to advise you on what action you
should be taking.