How to Safely Get Rid of Asbestos, Using a Skip Bin
Have you ever taken out your wheelie bins on bin day, only to realise the frustration of seeing something non-recyclable mixed in with your dutifully collected recyclable waste? Bear with us for just a moment on this analogy — because it’s highly relevant to a similar scenario, when it comes to hiring our skip bins in Sydney. To be more specific, getting non-recyclables mixed in with your other recyclables is somewhat similar to mixing in any other form of waste in a skip bin meant strictly for asbestos: it’s something you just simply should not do! While most of the builders and businesses we work with keep aware of the hazards involved with handling asbestos waste, it’s easy and often enough that staff or contract labour hires may not always share the same wisdom.
Regardless, handling asbestos waste is certainly no trivial matter to overlook. If you’re hiring a skip bin in Sydney and if it happens to be for a site that needs asbestos or asbestos-contaminated materials removed, then you should certainly read on to be clear about the strict dos and don’ts involved. As with any renovation or building project that involves handling asbestos, what needs to be achieved here is minimised asbestos exposure. When handled improperly, asbestos fibres can get airborne — and as a result, pose a health risk to anyone on or around the site in question.
Always Work with Licensed Asbestos Removalists
If your site and work involves the removal of asbestos or contaminated materials, then it would of course make sense for you to handle the tasks with appropriate processes and equipment in place. Ask any professional who specialises in asbestos removal, and they’ll certainly start by emphasising the need for proper PPE. If your workers and staff deserve that bodily protection from asbestos, then of course it would make as much sense to ensure that your process of removal features that similar form of protection. This, of course, proves the same when using skip bins to contain your asbestos waste. Any material that comes into contact with asbestos is considered contaminated, and is assumed to hold the same health risks as asbestos itself.
Likewise, skip bins should be adequately protected by lining them with heavy double PVC plastic in either orange or black. To be specific, it’s best to use two sheets of 200 microns or greater. While this simply lines the skip bin to be able to safely contain asbestos waste without risk of contamination to the next hirer, you’ll also need to ensure that the lining you provide includes sufficient overhang from the edges of the skip bin. The reason for this need for overhang is so that you’ll be able to enclose the asbestos contaminants within, and seal them in an airtight fashion, using industrial strength tape. When loading asbestos into our skip bins, your asbestos waste material must be wrapped in bundles of 25kg or less, to avoid the double PVC plastic layers ripping when we tip them. Keeping to this simple practice helps to ensure no asbestos particles are released into the air!
Being Familiar with State Requirements and Keeping Safe Around Asbestos
While it’s always recommended that you should work with licensed and capable asbestos removal specialists, you are permitted according to NSW law, to remove a maximum amount of 10 square metres of bonded asbestos by yourself — provided you take the necessary safety precautions! If you so happen to be hiring one of our skip bins for this specific purpose, then you’ll first of all need to obtain a NSW SafeWork bonded asbestos removal license to be able to legally and safely conduct your removal. However, there are limits to this rule — especially when you consider that any loose or friable asbestos will require the expertise of a qualified asbestos removalist.
If you’ve met the requirements and are going ahead with the task of removing a limited amount of bonded asbestos from your home, do remember to take the necessary precautions when lining your skip bin to hold your asbestos waste. The overall idea is to reduce any potential for asbestos fibres to be released into the air. As such, lining our skip bins and enclosing your waste material in the appropriate strength PVC plastic sheeting will definitely provide the right amount of protection and safety during your task, and while the waste is transported to a registered asbestos disposal facility.
Helping Our Customers Keep Safe and Get Things Right with Our Skip Bin Hire in Sydney
While we provide fast and effective skip bin hire at MCR Skip Bin Sydney, we’re never too busy to help our customers figure out their removal logistics. If you happen to be working with asbestos-related waste and need one of our skip bins, don’t hesitate to call us at 1300 433 991 to know more about how we can help. At MCR Skip Bins Sydney, your safety and wellbeing are just as important to us as your continued support!