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Identifying Asbestos waste

Asbestos exists in a number of forms—the three most common are chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue). All forms are toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing). It can be very damaging to human health and the environment. It does not break down easily and remains in the environment for a long time. Due to its hazardous nature, importing, supplying and using all types of asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, with only a few specific exceptions.

While the new use of asbestos is banned, asbestos products that were installed before the ban can remain in place. However, they must be managed and maintained in a safe condition, to ensure they do not cause a danger to human health or the environment.

See Practice Note: Control of asbestos—duty to manage.

Asbestos was widely used in buildings. Consequently, there is a significant risk of disturbing and releasing harmful asbestos fibres and/or creating asbestos waste when demolishing or carrying out works to a building. Asbestos is commonly found in:

1. •

   asbestos cement