Asbestos transport and disposal

The following definitions apply to asbestos transport and disposal.

Commercial activity is transporting waste where a fee or reward has or will be received. A reward is anything of monetary value, directly or indirectly received by the transporter.

Non-commercial is any other activity that does not meet the meaning of commercial. 

Regulated waste

Asbestos waste is regulated and must be disposed of safely, quickly and correctly. You must comply with the following when transporting and disposing of asbestos in Queensland:

• An environmental authority is required for transporting a 175kg or more of asbestos waste.
• Waste tracking documentation is required by all commercial operators transporting any quantity of asbestos waste, and by individuals if the waste exceeds a certain amount.
• Asbestos waste must be appropriately packaged.
• Asbestos waste must be disposed of at a local government approved site.

As a general guide, 175kg of typical flat asbestos cement sheet asbestos waste would occupy about a fifth of a normal household trailer. A quarter of a trailer would equate to approximately 250kg.

Regulated waste transport and disposal scenarios for homeowners and contractors

Example 1

A company is contracted to install telephone lines, connections and pits. This task involves removing less than 175kg of asbestos containing material (ACM) that will need transporting to a licensed landfill. An environmental authority is not required to transport the asbestos waste. The waste must be appropriately packaged for transport and disposal. Waste tracking documentation is required as the transportation is being undertaken on a commercial basis.

Example 2

A licensed asbestos removalist is contracted to remove asbestos cement sheeting generating 190kg of asbestos waste. Because the quantity of waste is greater than 175kg, an environmental authority to transport regulated waste is required for the vehicle being used to transport it. Although the asbestos cement sheeting is less than 250kg, the transport is an integral part (i.e. a primary objective) of the asbestos removal business and considered to be on a commercial basis. The removalist would therefore need to accurately record and submit waste tracking information to the Department of Environment and Science.

Example 3

A licensed asbestos removalist is contracted to remove asbestos cement sheeting generating 100kg of asbestos waste. Although the asbestos cement sheeting is less than 250kg, the transport is an integral part (i.e. a primary objective) of the asbestos removal business and considered to be on a commercial basis. The removalist would therefore need to accurately record and submit waste tracking information to the Department of Environment and Science. However, as the quantity is less than 175kg, an environmental authority to transport regulated waste is not required for the vehicle being used to transport the waste.

Example 4

A homeowner has removed ACM from their own home to a total of 150kg. The homeowner is transporting the ACM to a licensed landfill themselves. An environmental authority is not required as the volume is less than 175kg. Waste tracking is also not required as the transportation is being undertaken on a non-commercial basis for less than 250kg.

Example 5

A contractor is engaged to specifically collect asbestos waste and transport it to a landfill. In this case, the contractor would be undertaking regulated waste transport on a commercial basis and would need to accurately record and submit waste tracking information to the Department of Environment and Science. If the quantity of asbestos was also greater than 175kg, then an environmental authority to transport the regulated waste would be required for the vehicle being used to transport the waste.