How to Dispose of Asbestos Tile

Asbestos can pose a health risk for those renovating older homes.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that can be harmful to your health if inhaled. Prior to the mid-1980s asbestos was used as a fire-retardant building material in homes, including for floor tiles, wall panels and pipes. If you have removed asbestos tiles from your home and you need to dispose of them, you cannot simply throw them in the trash. There are specific ways to dispose of asbestos building materials that are designed to protect your health and the health of others.

Things You'll Need

• HEPA mask
• Rubber gloves
• Disposable clothing
• Heavy-duty polythene sheeting
• Duct tape

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Instructions

1. Find a local waste disposal center that accepts asbestos waste. Only some disposal centers are equipped with the appropriate facilities to accept and treat asbestos. In addition, some centers provide special packaging and labels which must be used when transporting the waste. To find the nearest waste disposal centers in your area, search online for "waste disposal" plus the name of your city.

2. Put on your protective gear. To stop airborne asbestos fibers from entering your lungs, use a mask fitted with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to catch any fibers in the air.

3. Spray the tiles with water. This will minimize the amount of asbestos dust expelled into the air.

4. Double-wrap the tiles with a heavy-duty polythene bag or sheet. Tape the wrapping down securely with duct tape. Be careful not to be break the tiles during this process. Where possible, tiles should be disposed of without any cutting. Anything else contaminated during the removal, such as brooms, cloths or clothing, should be disposed of too.

5. Transport the tiles to the waste disposal center. Make sure the tiles are stored securely during transport and cannot be accessed by others in the vehicle. The staff at the waste disposal center will tell you where to put the tiles.

Tips & Warnings

• If the tiles are crumbling or excessively broken, it may be dangerous to remove the tiles yourself. Call in a professional to take care of the disposal for you.

References

• Minnesota Department of Health: Floor Tile Removal
• Surrey Community Council: Asbestos in the Home