Changes to asbestos disposal at Henderson
What is asbestos?
ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) was extensively used in Australian products from the 1940s until about 1987 when its use ceased in the building industry. Use of ACM was totally banned in 2003.
Where can asbestos be found?
The below table provides a list of ACM products but not limited to;
| Location |
Materials |
| Bathroom, toilet and laundry |
- Asbestos cement sheeting used in walls, ceilings and floors
- Hot water pipes
- Lagging on hot water pipes
|
| Living areas |
- Door seal insulation in wood heaters
- Asbestos cement sheeting beneath heater hearths
|
| Kitchen |
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Backing to vinyl flooring
- Hot water pipes Ironing board covers
- Heatproof mats
|
| Exterior |
- Flat, patterned and corrugated wall and roof sheeting, Imitation brick cladding
- Lining under eaves
|
| Backyard |
- Fences
- Garden sheds
- Dog kennels
- Garages
- Carports
- Electrical meter boards
|
For further information on asbestos and a free eLearning course, please visit the Cancer Council website.
Managing and Maintaining asbestos
Early and safe removal of ACM is encouraged.
- All asbestos structures are ageing and reaching the end of their useful life
- Complete removal is strongly preferred over maintenance and repair of ageing asbestos structures
- Walking on asbestos cement roofs represents a serious fall risk as aged sheeting is brittle
- Improper cleaning and maintenance of roofs can increase exposure to airborne fibres
- Conducting anything beyond minor repairs is a breach of the Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992
- Clean-up costs after asbestos contamination of the surrounding environment from asbestos cement roofs damaged by high-pressure cleaning, fire and storm damage usually amounts to costs in the tens of thousands of dollars and contamination can spread over multiple neighbouring properties
- It is safer (and usually much less expensive) to remove and replace roofs that are still relatively intact
- Only where an asbestos structure has been kept well maintained and sealed/painted can it be safely maintained (e.g. cleaned, resealed/repainted) without generating asbestos-fibre release.
Any exposure to asbestos should be recorded in the
National Asbestos Exposure Register.
Asbestos removal
For residents
If you are thinking of renovating, you need to be aware of the potential for asbestos to be contained within household materials and take precautions to protect yourself from it.
Any person handling and disposing of asbestos is required to comply with the requirements of the
WALW - Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992. Please visit the
Asbestos webpage for information on identifying asbestos for households and the public.
Residents are able to remove up to 10 square meters of asbestos. If the amount of asbestos to be removed is greater than 10 square meters, you will need to have an asbestos licence-holder remove it. Please visit
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for information on finding and selecting an asbestos license-holder.
Asbestos can currently be disposed of at
Henderson Waste Recovery Park. However from 31 December 2023, Henderson will temporarily stop accepting asbestos. During this time, residents can use
Millar Road Landfill and Recycling Facility and
Ranford Road Resource Recovery and Waste Transfer Station as alternative disposal locations. We advise residents call these facilities ahead of time to understand their policies around asbestos disposal.
Asbestos must be:
- Firmly wrapped and sealed in heavy duty builder’s plastic
- Put in bundles that you can manage without assistance
- Placed on top of the load for inspection prior to entry
- Make sure the wrapping covers all of the asbestos and no sharp corners or edges are poking through
For information on the
fees and charges.
For contractors
Businesses contracted to remove greater than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos or any friable asbestos needs to hold an Asbestos Removal Licence. Please visit
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for information on businesses removing asbestos with and without a licence. Department of Mines, Industry, Regulations and Safety has a
frequently asked question page.
Business will also need to follow the
National Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos [NOHSC:2002 (2005)