How Is Asbestos Disposed Of In New Zealand?
For much of the 20th century, asbestos was extensively used as a building material. Prized for its relatively easy availability, affordability, physical strength, and fire resistance, asbestos was long incorporated into such products as asbestos-cement cladding and roofing, insulation board, and ceiling tiles.
It is well-known today that asbestos is an extremely dangerous substance for those who breathe in its fibres. Exposed individuals can be at heightened risk of developing potentially fatal conditions such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. Unsurprisingly, then, the substance is today often removed from properties in NZ.
Asbestos has been subject to greater legal restrictions in New Zealand in recent years. It has been illegal to import blue and brown asbestos into NZ in its raw form since 1984, and on 1st October 2016, it became illegal to import asbestos-containing products into NZ.
If, however, you are looking to remove asbestos from your own NZ property, you might be interested in knowing the answer to the question: how is asbestos disposed of in NZ?
What Are The Disposal Processes For Asbestos In NZ?
Once the process of removing asbestos from a property is done, it will need to be disposed of. The asbestos removalist is required, under NZ law, to make sure asbestos waste is appropriately contained and marked clearly to indicate the presence of asbestos. It should then be removed from the work area.
Disposal of asbestos waste in NZ should occur as soon as reasonably practicable. The asbestos removalist should ensure that individual components and wiping rags are placed in plastic bags, with each bag being goose-necked separately, followed by its placement in a container.
The asbestos removalist is expected to make sure that asbestos waste awaiting disposal is stored in closed containers. These could take the form of 60 or 200 metre steel drums with removable lids, or a sealed skip.
It will then be necessary for the asbestos waste to be disposed of at a landfill site that has been approved for this purpose by a territorial local or territorial authority in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991.
Trust Us For Safe And Legal Asbestos Disposal In Auckland
The short answer to the question, “how is asbestos disposed of in NZ?” is that it is taken to an approved landfill site – but as we have explained above, there are many other aspects of the disposal process that need to be borne in mind. To arrange for the safe removal of asbestos from your Auckland property, followed by legally compliant disposal, please call 021 817 644.