Asbestos Policy Directive - Environment and Conservation

P.D.: PPD98-03
Issue date: December 15, 1998
Revised: January 15, 1999

Subject: Asbestos Waste Disposal

Objective: To prevent exposure to wastes containing asbestos and to ensure that the storage, collection, transport and disposal of these wastes do not represent a health hazard to humans or a threat to the environment.

Background: Asbestosis of the lung, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the pleural lining, have been associated with exposures to airborne asbestos fibres. As a result, the use of asbestos has been restricted in many jurisdictions. Where asbestos products are installed or in use, a concerted effort has been made to minimize environment and health risk exposures for those individuals involved in handling, transporting and disposing the products and where decommissioning/refit activities are planned or in progress. An exposure risk to human health receptors is recognized. Provisions made are to minimize or eliminate exposure risk to both human health as well as potential environmental receptors.

The Department of Environment is responsible for the provisions of the Waste Material Disposal Act within the province. The Government Service Centre of the Department of Government Services and Lands is empowered to provide the licencing, inspection and enforcement services of this Act on behalf of the Department.

Legislative Authority: Waste Material Disposal Act

Related Legislation:

Environment Act, 1995

Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998

The Occupational Health and Safety Act

Highway Traffic Act

General:

It is illegal to dump/discard or otherwise dispose of asbestos waste in any area which is not an approved waste disposal site as described under provisions of the Waste Material Disposal Act and/or in accordance with provisions of this policy. Failure to comply with the provisions of this policy will place the offender and their agents(s) in violation of the Waste Material Disposal Act and make the offender responsible for taking any remedial measures as may be prescribed by the Department of Environment.

1.0 Definitions

Asbestos Waste means a waste containing Anon friable@ and/or "friable" asbestos material in a concentration greater than 1% asbestos by volume. Asbestos in a friable form can be, when dry, crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

Asbestos is a generic term referring to any of the following fibrous silicates: actinolite, amosite, anthophylite, tremolite, crocidolite or chrysotile.

Exposure means exposure to airborne respirable asbestos fibres or asbestos dust, whether originating from asbestos minerals, materials or products.

Generator means the owner of land, facilities, equipment and/or buildings from which asbestos containing materials or products are generated and may include responsible parties.

Approved Waste Disposal Site means a site designated for disposal of waste materials and for which a certificate of approval has been issued under the provisions of the Waste Material Disposal Act.

2.0 General Considerations

2.1 Any person(s) engaged in the removal and/or disposal of asbestos waste is required to operate under the provisions of the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998. A valid asbestos abatement contractors certificate is required to engage in asbestos removal activity in accordance with section 6 of the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998.

2.2 The Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998 is under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (O-3 RSN 1990) and is administered by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch of the Department of Environment.

2.3 Administration of this policy shall be maintained by the Government Service Centre, Department of Government Services and Lands on behalf of the Pollution Prevention Division, Department of Environment.

2.4 Analysis for asbestos content must be conducted by laboratories which have a recognized form of accreditation.

3.0 Handling and Transport

3.1 The generator of asbestos waste shall ensure that all agents or contractors have received the necessary training as per Section 7 of the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998 and are informed, in writing, of the risks associated with handling such wastes. Also, the generator will apply personal health and safety protocols in handling, transporting and disposal.

3.2 Loose asbestos wastes shall be wetted completely and packaged in a plastic bag having a thickness of not less than 6 mil and placed within a second plastic bag having a thickness of not less than 6 mil prior to transport (double bagged).

The outside surface of all bags containing asbestos wastes shall be free of asbestos before transport to a waste disposal site.

3.3 In cases where double bagging is not practical or may result in increased worker exposure, (eg. - removal of large objects and/or sheets of waste containing non friable asbestos), the asbestos waste must be wetted to suppress dust and placed in a transport vehicle which has been lined with puncture proof polyethylene sheeting. The asbestos waste must be completely covered and secured during transport.

3.4 All asbestos wastes in bags or bulk shall prominently display a tag or label indicating "Asbestos Waste" or "Asbestos Contaminated Material".

3.5 In addition to bagging or polyethylene sheeting, wastes containing asbestos shall be transported in an enclosed vehicle or a vehicle equipped with a tarpaulin or netting to prevent the loss of waste during transport.

3.6 All asbestos wastes must be transported to an approved waste disposal site. Consent from the owner/operator of the disposal site must be obtained prior to disposal.

3.7 Transporters of asbestos waste must hold a valid Certificate of Approval under provisions of the Waste Material Disposal Act.

4.0 Procedure (Applications/Disposal Requests)

4.1 All requests for asbestos waste disposal shall be recorded on the prescribed form entitled, Hazardous/Special Waste Disposal Request Form (attached) and submitted to the Government Service Centre, Department of Government Services and Lands.

4.2 The Government Service Centre, Department of Government Services and Lands shall maintain a record of all asbestos waste disposal requests on behalf of the Pollution Prevention Division, Department of Environment.

4.3 Records and statistics shall be provided by the Government Service Centre to the Department upon written request.

5.0 Disposal

5.1 Asbestos waste material shall be considered special waste and landfilled in a special/hazardous waste area of an approved waste disposal site with the permission of the owner/operator.

5.2 Asbestos waste shall be backfilled with a minimum 0.6 metres of compacted fill material on the day of disposal.

5.3 The contractor shall ensure the boundaries of the asbestos waste disposal area are clearly defined and that an all weather sign is posted. The disposal location shall be plotted on a scale drawing or plan. The plot plan must be filed with the regional office of the Government Service Centre, Department of Government Services and Lands & the site owner/operator.

5.4 The waste disposal site owner/operator shall ensure that backfilled asbestos waste is not disturbed in the future.

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