Asbestos Removal in Dartford

The Borough of Dartford is situated in Kent, England, and is 18 miles south east of Central London. Dartford is known as a commuter town for Greater London, thanks to the Dartford Crossing, a major road crossing part of the M25 motorway over the River Thames.

While the centre of Dartford provides great opportunities for commercial developments, the surrounding semi-rural villages offer green, tranquil settings to residents. The constant development and renovation of exciting new properties means that there is an increased need for proper, regulated removal of commercial and construction waste.

The Dartford Borough Council offers a waste removal and recycling service, as well as a paid-for garden waste scheme to residents. The Household Waste and Recycling Centres in the borough are all owned and run by Kent County Council. Serco is the local waste contractor in the area.

The Council also offers clinical and bulky waste collection services – more details on which items are permitted and how collections can be arranged are available on the Borough website.
There are also various private waste removal companies available in the area, these companies will be able to provide services for specialist waste removal such as asbestos removal which can not be disposed of in council-run general waste and recycling bins.

Hazardous waste removal, including asbestos removal should be done according to regulations to avoid damage to the environment and to the health of residents. This includes the removal of hazardous waste, which may contain asbestos. Dartford generates approximately 1.3 million tonnes of construction waste and over 70,000 tonnes of hazardous waste a year, of which asbestos removal contributes a small amount, however it is one of the most harmful types of hazardous waste for human health you will deal with.

While many buildings or domestic residences built prior to the 2000’s may contain asbestos, it is impossible to detect it yourself. Asbestos is mostly found in shed and garage roofs, floor tiles, ceilings and door linings

A professional asbestos surveyor or contractor will be able to sample your property and determine which elements contain asbestos. They will also advise you on further steps regarding the asbestos removal if you are refurbishing your home or doing a construction project in a commercial building.

While small amounts of asbestos can be removed in your own private home without releasing too many fibres, it is best to consult a professional if you wish to dispose of asbestos safely. Asbestos removal in a commercial area such as an office building requires strict compliance to regulations to avoid an occupational hazard to staff.

Professional asbestos removal contractors will place asbestos in double waste bags and lockable skips to ensure safety before removal and to keep the disturbed fibres contained.

Via the Wayst platform you are able to access a range of professional asbestos removal contractors who are members of the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), we ensure that all types of asbestos removal is carried out safely.

Unfortunately, the only legal way to dispose of asbestos in the UK is to bury it in landfills as there is not yet an option to chemically destroy or recycle asbestos.

The cost of asbestos removal will depend on the quantity and can vary depending on the extent of the project and amount of asbestos waste removal generated – the price can start at roughly £50 per square metre. For example:

- A single asbestos garage roofing sheet and side panels can cost about £1450+VAT

- The removal and disposal of an artex ceiling in two rooms will usually cost about £1950+VAT

- While 20 square metres of soffit board will cost about £2250+VAT

A professional asbestos surveyor will sample and determine the quantity and type of asbestos material in your building and will then advise accordingly.

Asbestos, a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals, was commonly used in many building materials prior to 1999. Asbestos was a popular material to use due its properties that include heat, water and chemical resistance as well as being resistant to biological degradation. At some point, more than 50% of all domestic properties in the UK contained asbestos.

Unfortunately, researchers found that the microscopic fibres in asbestos can be released into the air and inhaled when building material is disturbed or tampered with. These tiny fibres settle in the lungs of humans and can cause a range of respiratory diseases.

Many buildings in the UK still most likely contain asbestos – luckily, this is not a significant health hazard if left undisturbed. Construction and refurbishing may cause the fibres in asbestos materials to become unsettled and released into the air.

It is especially risky when asbestos-laden pipe lagging needs to be removed as the type of material contains the most dangerous form of asbestos. As pipe lagging often runs through an entire building, the dust can’t be contained to one room and can easily be released into the air.

It is therefore crucial to use a credible asbestos removal company to ensure that any asbestos waste is safely removed, handled and disposed of.