Asbestos transport and disposal

Asbestos waste transport

​The transport and disposal of asbestos must occur in a manner that eliminates the release of airborne asbestos fibres, by ensuring:

  • ​bagged asbestos waste is securely packaged in labelled containers
  • packing material and waste containers must be protected, secured and remain intact during transport and unloading
  • waste is unloaded at the landfill site using waste disposal procedures which prevent the tearing of the polythene lining
  • any packaging that is damaged must be replaced or repaired prior to disposal
  • vehicles should be carefully cleaned after transporting asbestos waste.

Every vehicle carrying asbestos waste in a quantity of over 500kg, or 500 litres is considered a placarded load and must display Dangerous Goods Class label 9 signage (the size of the label must be no less than 250mm square), at the front and the rear of the vehicle.

Asbestos waste disposal

The asbestos waste must be disposed of at a licensed asbestos waste disposal site of as soon as reasonably practicable, whether that is:

  • ​at the end of the removal job (providing the asbestos waste is secured on site at the end of each day to prevent unauthorised access)
  • when the waste containers are full
  • at the end of each day if the asbestos waste cannot be secured at the removal site.

Management of asbestos waste at landfills

​Licenced asbestos waste landfill facilities are required to handle and cover asbestos waste in such a manner that no dust is generated. The procedures for landfilling asbestos typically involve digging a hole in the general waste, depositing the asbestos and immediately covering it with soil. Some sites store asbestos in a skip bin near the entrance to the site for transport and burial at the end of the day; others are required to deposit each load immediately on arrival. When not receiving waste, any containers used for temporary storage at a site must be covered.

​The following landfilling practices are recommended for asbestos waste disposal:

  • before compacting, cover with a layer of soil at least 300mm thick or with a layer of waste at least 1m thick
  • asbestos must not be deposited within 2m of the final tipping surface of the landfill
  • when not receiving waste, any containers used for temporary storage at a site must be covered (e.g., lined skip bin with lid)
  • preferably a dedicated cell of a landfill should be used for asbestos disposal and that this area be clearly marked on the site map
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Factsheet: Australia – National Framework for Asbestos Management and Removal

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