Does your Construction, Renovation & Demolition Waste Contain Asbestos?

What’s Asbestos?

There are several fibrous minerals commonly known as asbestos. These minerals can be used to make products strong, long lasting and fire-resistant.

Before 1990, asbestos was mainly used for insulating buildings and homes against cold weather and noise. It was also used for fireproofing.

Protect Yourself and Your Workers from Asbestos Exposure

Unprotected workers exposed to Asbestos-contaminated air can breathe in the fibers which may cause serious negative health impacts, such as lung disease and cancer. For information about safe practices refer to WorksafeBC.

The SLRD has specific safety protocols for managing asbestos-containing materials at the Lillooet Landfill.  Asbestos waste is a hazardous material and must never be included in your household waste.

The SLRD recommends anyone planning renovations or demolition of a home or building constructed prior to 1990 hire a qualified professional to conduct a hazard assessment and test for asbestos as well as hire a qualified professional for safe disposal.

Potential Asbestos Containing Materials

The following materials are classified as potential asbestos containing materials:

• Gypsum wallboard and tape, and mud compound
• Plaster and plaster board
• Vinyl flooring and leveling compound
• Ceiling tiles
• Cement pipe
• Stucco and cement siding
• Spray-applied insulation and attic insulation
• Chimney materials

Disposal of Potential Asbestos Containing Materials

Signed and approved SLRD Asbestos Declaration and Acknowledgment Form is required regardless of the installation/construction date.

New construction/ Post 1990 Construction

• A completed Asbestos Declaration and Acknowledgment Form is required.
• Materials with proof of date (after 1990) or with hazard assessment and laboratory results demonstrating there is no contamination can be disposed of as Construction & Demolition Waste.
• Materials with no proof of date (after 1990) will require testing before being approved for disposal.  The hazardous waste assessment with laboratory results will determine the type of waste and disposal requirements.
• Small load from an individual with no proof of date (after 1990) will be treated as asbestos-containing material unless a hazard assessment with lab results is provided ahead of time.

Pre 1990 - Potential Asbestos Containing Material

• A completed Asbestos Declaration and Acknowledgment Form, hazard assessment and laboratory results are required.
• The required information must be submitted for approval 10 days prior the disposal date.

Tested and confirmed to contain asbestos material

• Asbestos-containing material must be double-bagged in 6 mil bags and sealed shut (with tape) prior to arriving at a disposal site.
• Asbestos-containing materials require an appointment for disposal.

Tested and confirmed to NOT contain asbestos material 

• Confirmed to not contain asbestos material do not require a appointment for disposal

Asbestos Declaration and Acknowledgment Form

Should contractors or residents discover through analytical testing that they are dealing with older waste (pre-1990) asbestos drywall, please review the Province’s Hazardous Waste Regulation or contact an asbestos abatement company to deal with this hazardous material on your behalf. 

Management of Waste Asbestos by Home Owners in BC

Home waste containing asbestos is hazardous waste and must be handled, transported and disposed of in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Regulation. 

The graphic below summarizes the steps homeowners should take when disposing of asbestos contaminated waste (click to enlarge).

The following guide provides further assistance to homeowners on how to manage hazardous waste asbestos from their home in compliance with the Hazardous Waste Regulations.

Managing Waste Abestos by Homeowners Guide

Hazardous Waste Materials Survey / Asbestos Testing Companies

WorkSafeBC Asbestos information and Asbestos Abatement Licence Registry

DISCLAIMER: List of local service providers

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has not evaluated, screened or reviewed the above service providers and cannot endorse, recommend or approve them. This is not a comprehensive list, and we welcome service providers not on this list to phone 604-894-6371 or 1-800-298-7753 if they wish to be included. (The SLRD recommends that you thoroughly assess any service provider and compile a written contract with them prior to retaining them for any service.)

Additional resources:

Asbestos: FAQs WorkSafe BC