Dispose of residential asbestos waste and used drywall from your home

Before removing materials that may contain asbestos, you should take samples and get them tested at a laboratory. Then, you will know whether to take all of the recommended precautions needed to protect yourself from asbestos exposure during removal.

Learn more about testing for asbestos

Asbestos waste is only accepted for disposal at the Landfill—not at the Transfer Station—so it can get buried in a dedicated trench to stay safely undisturbed.

Hours and fees for asbestos disposal vary according to how much asbestos waste is being dropped off. Up to 10 garbage bags of asbestos waste can be disposed of during regular hours at the residential asbestos waste tipping fee. Contact the Landfill 24 hours in advance to drop off more than 10 bags of asbestos-containing material. The tipping fee for "All other asbestos waste" will apply.

Used drywall is accepted from residents that have removed the drywall from their homes and transported it to the Landfill. Limits apply. See the Drywall webpage for details. The tipping fee for ‘used residential drywall’ will apply.

Used drywall from businesses and contractors is not accepted.

What's happeningAsbestos abatement licensing requirement

As of January 1, 2024, asbestos abatement contractors must be licensed to operate in British Columbia, and anyone performing asbestos abatement work must complete mandatory safety training and obtain certificates.

Learn more about asbestos training, certification, and licensing

Where is asbestos accepted from?

 The Vancouver Landfill only accepts asbestos waste and used drywall from within Metro Vancouver.

Prepare asbestos waste and used drywall for disposal

 Note: If you are hired to dispose of asbestos waste for someone else, the Landfill considers your load as commercial asbestos waste and requires additional containment.

Properly contain asbestos waste for disposal using the instructions below.

Material How to contain it

Asbestos waste
  1. Double-bag in plastic, hazardous waste bags that are a minimum of 0.15 mm or 6 mil thick.
  2. Label bags clearly to show they contain asbestos.

Asbestos insulation or vermiculite
  1. Wet the insulation.
  2. Double-bag in plastic, hazardous waste bags that are a minimum of 0.15 mm or 6 mil thick.
  3. Label bags clearly to show they contain asbestos.

 If insulation is wrapped around a pipe, dispose of entire pipe.

Asbestos pipe
  1. Seal broken ends in plastic sheets that are at least 6 mil thick.
  2. Double-bag small pieces or fragments.

 Regular garbage length restrictions are waived.
Hot water tanks lined with asbestos Double-wrap or double-seal with plastic sheets that are at least 6 mil thick.
Used residential drywall, mud, and joint compound made before 1990 See the drywall webpage

Up to 10 bags of asbestos waste (excluding used drywall)

Drop off up to 10 garbage bags of asbestos-containing material at the landfill's residential drop-off area during regular opening hours.

More than 10 bags of asbestos waste (excluding used drywall)

  1. Notify the landfill by 3pm the day before disposing the asbestos waste. Email the Landfill at landfilloperations@vancouver.ca with the subject ‘Asbestos Notification’. Include your license plate number and the number of bags requiring disposal. This early notice lets the landfill prepare a safe burial trench for the waste.
  2. Drop off your load at the landfill between 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays).
  3. Pay the fee for all other asbestos waste.

Test for asbestos and you may save money

Do you suspect a product contains asbestos, such as blown-in insulation or acoustic ceiling tiles, but do not have the original packaging? Get the product tested at an accredited laboratory.

Testing may save you money if you need to dispose of more than 10 bags of material. While a test costs between $25 to $100, a result showing no asbestos lets you avoid paying the burial fee.

Find an accredited laboratory at www.metrovancouverrecycles.org

  1. Select the tab "I am a business".
  2. In Option 2 "Search by service and material", choose "Asbestos testing" and your location.
  3. Click Search.

Commercial requirements

Commercial asbestos waste

Find out how to prepare and dispose of commercial asbestos waste. Used drywall from businesses and contractors is not accepted.

Asbestos policy

Find out about the Vancouver Landfill's asbestos disposal policy, potential sources of asbestos, and when to have products tested for asbestos.

Find the landfill

Asbestos is accepted at the landfill, but not the transfer station.

View landfill location and hours