Asbestos Management
Asbestos waste is defined as any material containing asbestos, in any form, in quantities exceeding 1% by weight or by volume.
Resources
- Asbestos Hazards When Renovating Older Homes (WorkSafeBC)
- Asbestos Hazards in Demolition, Renovation and Salvage (WorkSafeBC)
- Management of Waste Asbestos by Home Owners in BC (Ministry of Environment)
- Analytical Laboratories for material testing
- Asbestos Drywall Management Companies
Vancouver Landfill Asbestos Policy
Asbestos Policy (PDF, 36 KB)
IN BRIEF
- Asbestos waste is accepted for disposal at the Vancouver Landfill in Delta according to this policy. Asbestos waste is NOT accepted at the Vancouver South Transfer Station.
- Asbestos waste must be double bagged and labelled for disposal. Minimum bag thickness is 0.15 mm or 6 mil.
- Gypsum drywall containing asbestos is NOT accepted at the Landfill. Call 604-RECYCLE for disposal options.
- Residential Asbestos Waste - asbestos waste transported by homeowner or farmer directly to the Landfill.
Loads of 10 bags or fewer are accepted 7 days a week at the garbage disposal rate.
Loads of 11 bags or more are ONLY accepted Monday to Friday, 8 am - 2 pm. Burial charges apply. Notification at least one day (24 hours) in advance by fax (604.946.2873) or phone 3-1-1 (or 604.873.7000 from outside Vancouver city limits) is required. - Commercial Asbestos Waste - all asbestos waste that is not "residential".
A Hazardous Waste Movement Document/Manifest is required for all loads containing friable asbestos. Notification by fax (604.946.2873) at least one day (24 hours) in advance of the desired disposal date is required. Burial charges apply. Maximum container size = 40 yards. - Vermiculite insulation, blown-in insulation and acoustic ceiling tiles have been identified by WorkSafeBC as potential sources of asbestos. Therefore, these materials are only accepted at the Landfill, where they are managed in the same manner as asbestos waste. Containment requirements and burial charges apply. See the ‘Suspect Asbestos Containing Materials’ section for additional information.
IN DETAIL
The City of Vancouver accepts asbestos waste for disposal at the Vancouver Landfill, but not at the Vancouver South Transfer Station. The Landfill only accepts asbestos waste from within the Metro Vancouver, which includes the following 21 municipalities:
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Asbestos waste received at the Vancouver Landfill is classified under one of two categories:
1. Residential (Definition: asbestos transported by a homeowner or farmer from their home directly to the Landfill)
- Asbestos waste must be properly contained (see Containment Requirements below).
- Loads of 10 bags or less are received at the Landfill 7 days a week during regular operating hours and deposited in the Asbestos bin at the Landfill Residential Drop-Off Area. Residents will be charged the garbage disposal rate.
- Loads of 11 bags or more are only accepted Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm excluding holidays. Burial charges apply. Minimum 24 hours notification is required by fax (604.946.2873) or phone 3-1-1 (or 604.873.7000 from outside Vancouver city limits).
- Hazardous Waste Movement Documents/Manifests are not required for residential loads.
2. Commercial (Definition: all asbestos not defined as Residential)
- Maximum container size: 40 cubic yards (30 cubic meters).
- Loads containing friable asbestos require a Hazardous Waste Movement Document/Manifest, which can be purchased from FrontCounter BC Surrey (604.586.4400). Visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/hazwaste/manifests/ for additional information.
- Accepted Monday to Friday only, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm excluding holidays.
- Haulers must notify the Landfill by fax (604.946.2873) one day prior to delivery, and include the approximate volume of the load (in cubic meters).
- Loads of friable asbestos in excess of 1,000 kg must also have a Consignor Generator Identification number (CGI), which is obtainable from the Ministry of Environment (Surrey Office, 604.582.5200), and a placard indicating the vehicle is carrying hazardous waste.
- Each load is buried directly, with a burial fee in addition to the regular tipping fee for each load brought in.
Suspect Asbestos Containing Materials
WorkSafeBC has identified that vermiculite insulation, blown-in insulation and acoustic ceiling tiles are potential sources of asbestos. These materials can be brought to the Vancouver Landfill or Vancouver South Transfer Station for disposal as garbage if and only if accompanied by laboratory results no older than one month or original packaging that confirms they do not contain asbestos. Otherwise, they must be taken to the Vancouver Landfill for disposal as asbestos waste. Containment requirements and burial charges apply, however a manifest is not required.
Primary Containment Requirements
Primary asbestos containment is defined as the immediate container holding the asbestos, so that it does not become airborne. Primary asbestos containment must be clearly labelled to indicate the presence of asbestos.
- Asbestos must be double-bagged in garbage bags that are a minimum of 0.15 mm or 6 mil thick, and the bags clearly labelled to indicate the presence of asbestos. A sufficient number of bags (or pipes) must be labelled asbestos, so that a visual inspection will easily identify the material as asbestos.
- Instructions for specific materials:
- Asbestos insulation (i.e. vermiculite) should be wetted and double-bagged in sealed plastic that is 6 mil or thicker. If insulation is wrapped around a pipe, disposal of the entire pipe is often safest.
- Asbestos pipe - Broken ends must be sealed in plastic and small pieces (fragments) must be double bagged. The Landfill’s regular length restrictions are waived to eliminate cutting or breaking pipes.
- Hot Water Tanks lined with Asbestos must be double wrapped (sealed) in plastic.
- NOTE: Sealed drums are not acceptable asbestos waste containers.
Secondary Containment Requirements
Secondary asbestos containment is defined as the storage or shipping container for the asbestos material enclosed in the primary containment. Secondary Asbestos Containment (such as the storage bins or transfer trailers) must be clearly marked to indicate the presence of asbestos.
The following laboratories can provide asbestos analysis services. Testing typically costs between $25 and $100 per sample, depending on the company and analysis time. Call for more information. The City of Vancouver does not endorse these companies or attempt to provide a list of all possible service providers.
| Analytical Laboratory | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|
| ACM Environmental | 604.873.8599 | 217 - 2323 Quebec St., Vancouver |
| Astech Consultants Ltd. | 604.575.1122 | 101-Bldg. C - 17802 66th Ave, Cloverdale |
| Caro Analytical Services | 604.279.1499 | 120 Clarke Place, Richmond |
| Epoch Analytical | 604.521.6806 | Unit 19, 62 Fawcett Rd., Coquitlam |
| Maxxam | 604.639.2613 | 4606 Canada Way, Burnaby |
| Pacific Environmental Consulting |
604.980.3577 | 1336 Main St., North Vancouver |
| 604.532.0345 | B208 – 20641 Logan Ave., Langley | |
| PHH Arc Environmental | 604.244.8101 | 406 – 13251 Delf Place, Richmond |
| SURE Hazmat & Testing | 604.444.0204 | 501 – 3292 Production Way, Burnaby |
| Wes-Har Asbestos & Analysis | 604.279.9445 | 170 – 2188 No. 5 Rd., Richmond |
** The City of Vancouver reserves the right to change this policy at any time without notification. Please contact the Transfer & Landfill Operations at 3-1-1 (or 604.873.7000 from outside Vancouver city limits) for additional information.
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