Asbestos

Other Names:

amosite asbestos
chrysotile asbestos
crocidolite asbestos
magnesium silicate

Synonyms:

ACM (asbestos containing material)
friable asbestos
non-friable asbestos

Description:

• May appear as white, grey, blue or brown solid.
• As a pure substance, it consists of flexible fibres with a soft, "soapy" texture but it is most often mixed with other substances where it takes on the characteristics of the other substance.
• Odourless.
• There are thousands of asbestos containing products, the most common being thermal and noise insulation, asbestos cement products, floor covering products, friction products such as brake linings, paper products such as floor underlays, felt products such as gaskets, some plasters and fireproof textiles. 

Disposal:

Properly packaged (often double bagged) waste asbestos must be disposed of at a landfill that has received approval from the appropriate provincial environment department to accept asbestos waste. The waste must be placed in the area of the landfill specifically designated for that purpose.

Each landfill must be contacted on an individual basis as, even if the landfill has approval, the owner/operator may refuse to accept asbestos waste.

In Newfoundland, waste asbestos may go to any landfill.

In New Brunswick, waste asbestos may go to any Regional Landfill. There are currently three. It is recommended that the generator of the asbestos waste ask for a copy of the receipt from the landfill so that proper disposal is ensured. New Brunswick Department of the Environment has a policy entitled Disposal of Asbestos Waste in New Brunswick.

In Nova Scotia, waste asbestos may go to any active, municipal landfill with an appropriate asbestos disposal site. There are also Asbestos Waste Management Regulations, Environment Act 1995.

In Prince Edward Island, waste asbestos may go to the Sleepy Hollow landfill in Queens County or the East Prince landfill at Wellington Centre.

created July 1999