Question 1

Learn more about Asbestos Removal in South East London

Accepted Answer

Asbestos awareness in society is of paramount importance and an awareness of the regulations surrounding asbestos removal is also crucial. Asbestos waste is a highly toxic substance that was used extensively during the 20th century, reaching its peak during the 1960s-1980s, despite its risk to human health being known since the 1940s. Due to its natural properties, asbestos made an excellent construction material. The substance is resistant to heat, water, chemicals and biological degradation. It was used in floor tiles, pipes, shed and garage roofs, as insulation and even in car breaks. For this reason, contact with asbestos waste can happen during DIY or construction work being carried out, if so professional asbestos removal is required.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that is a combination of six different minerals and comes in two types: amphibole (blue and brown asbestos) and serpentine (white asbestos). Amphibole asbestos was most widely used in the UK, however, it was serpentine asbestos that was banned first in 1985. Astonishingly, asbestos was not completely banned until 1999 despite obvious health risks and the danger it poses to construction workers in particular.

With nearly 1 million commercial and residential buildings in the South East of London, a large portion of these sites will contain some sort of asbestos waste. This is not an immediate risk as it is the fibres of asbestos that are hazardous, therefore, when asbestos is whole and still in sheets it will not pose a risk as long as it is not tampered with, broken or fractured in any way. Asbestos removal may not have to be carried out immediately.

There are waste disposal centres in Southwark, Greenwich and Lambeth, however, both Greenwich and Southwark do not offer an option for asbestos collection or removal. Lambeth waste disposal centre does accept small amounts of asbestos. You should call ahead and let them know of the materials you plan on disposing of there.

Need help with an asbestos removal in South East London? Get in touch.

Question 2

How dangerous is asbestos?

Accepted Answer

During the asbestos removal process, when it is broken, small fibres are released into the air and can gather within bodily tissues when inhaled. Exposure to asbestos waste can cause asbestosis, a harmful respiratory disease which leads to further complications like thickening of the lung tissue. Unfortunately, these diseases do not tend to show symptoms until years later and can be difficult to treat. Due to this, it is only now that we are seeing the effects of extensive use of this hazardous material.

Asbestos can have the same damaging effects when it is ingested, for example if it makes its way into a water supply, as to when it is inhaled.

In the UK there are no specific regulations put in place for asbestos recycling and so all asbestos ends up in landfill which is not the most ideal scenario for our environment, but as long as it is disposed of at a licensed facility then it is far better than it being disposed of irresponsibly.

Question 3

How to check for asbestos

Accepted Answer

A BBC survey suggests that 45% of homeowners would not be able to identify asbestos waste if they came across it, and that 50% of people did not realise that asbestos was used as a building material. It can be hard to tell whether a substance in your home is asbestos or not, however, it is still important to find out whether a material is hazardous before you carry out any DIY, have any asbestos removal carried out or have any construction carried out on your property or business otherwise you may cause harm to yourself and others.

Asbestos waste can be blue, brown or white in colour, however, it can still be hard to differentiate from other materials, especially when it is covered in dust or debris. If you think you have found asbestos, leave it where it is and make sure that no one is coming in close contact with that area. Do not try to fix it in place with nails or screws and do not try to dismantle it yourself.

Asbestos is tested by taking a small piece of asbestos being taken from the main sheet and being sent off in a sealed container to a secure site where it will be tested to determine what it is. Councils may also be able to offer advice on how to identify asbestos and how to find a service that will test the asbestos for you.

At Wayst, we will give you expert advice on how to find a reputable asbestos surveyor in your areas to test whether a material you suspect to be asbestos in your home needs to be removed. If you think you have found asbestos in your home, do not ignore it.

Question 4

How asbestos is removed

Accepted Answer

Legally, as a homeowner, you are permitted to remove small amounts of asbestos from your home by yourself as long as you adhere to the regulations and safety precautions surrounding asbestos removal, however, we would advise against attempting this. It is well documented that many people are unaware of the hazards of asbestos and so removing the substance yourself is extremely dangerous.

Greenwich and Southwark waste disposal centres do not accept hazardous materials including asbestos waste whereas Lambeth waste disposal centre does accept small amounts of asbestos as long as it is double-wrapped and in a safe container. You should wet asbestos down before disposing of it and ensure that you call ahead if dropping the substance off at any disposal site.

Most London councils suggest you use the City of London hazardous waste disposal service to remove asbestos. This service offers asbestos removal from residential buildings, however, it does not dispose of asbestos from commercial buildings or schools, however private specialist waste companies tend to be the option people choose as The City of London service is limited and can also be time-consuming.

Wayst will ensure that any asbestos you may come across is taken care of by reputable, licensed asbestos waste removal companies. Through our thorough screening process, we assess a company before partnering with them so you can rest assured that any hazardous waste is being disposed of safely and responsibly. You will also be provided with all of the correct documentation so you know that you are getting a premium service.

Question 5

Asbestos removal cost

Accepted Answer

Asbestos removal can be a costly service as it involves toxic refuse which is harmful and needs to be dealt with following strict regulations set out by the health and safety executive. The process can cost anything from £200+VAT into the thousands of pounds depending on the amount of asbestos you need removing and where in your property this asbestos is situated. For example, removing asbestos from guttering on a bungalow can cost around £1000 + VAT whereas the removal of asbestos from a garage roof and side panels can come to around £750 + VAT.

Wayst can offer expert advice on how to deal with the asbestos in your home as well as give you an idea of how much you might expect asbestos collection to cost.

Question 6

What you need to know about South East London

Accepted Answer

South East London covers the boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley, and Southwark, and contains a diverse mix of commercial and residential areas, many of which are under construction and redevelopment as the city expands. The mixture of historical and artistic influences in this area make it a centre of culture and tourism characterised by Victoran cobbled streets that run from London Bridge to Rotherhithe, with a portion of London's most popular tourist spots along the way, including Tower Bridge, the Tate Modern, and the Design Museum. Well known shopping locations in South east London include the Old Spitalfields market, Brick Lane for boutiques and public houses, and the Columbia Road flower market. Aside from the attractions museums and parks, much of Southeast London is built on close knit family orientated communities and some of the best places to live in south east London for families include Greenwich, which has plenty of green space for children to play in and nature walks by the river, and Herne Hill which offers residential areas filled with family sized properties and is home to Brockwell Park and Brockwell Lido.

Question 7

What are the different ways to dispose of waste in South East London?

Accepted Answer

Due to the large amount of commercial enterprises in this area of the city there are some waste management companies in south east London that operate exclusively for businesses providing companies with free wheelie bins and regular collections that include clinical hazardous and sanitary waste. Rubbish tips in south east London are mainly run by the local authorities with just a few industrial waste management facilities located in the area offering muck away and grab hire on construction sites. The integrated waste management facility in Southwark, which is operated by Veolia is on the same site as the local authority household reuse and recycling centre at 43 Devon Street off Old Kent Road, and serves residents from the named borough. Rubbish removal for residential properties and house clearance services are mostly available through waste management organisations covering the whole of London and the surrounding areas, although there are a few independent companies nearby, the best of which has their own materials recovery facility for recycling and processing refuse.

Question 8

Where are the nearest recycling centres in South East London

Accepted Answer

South East London covers 16 recycling and waste disposal facilities run by the local authorities of Bexley Bromley Lewisham Southwark and Greenwich. Thames Road Depot, and Foots Cray Reuse & Recycling Centre in Bexley handle household, industrial, and commercial waste, and guides for where to recycle materials and where to locate recycling banks are available on the London borough of Bexley website. Waldo Road Reuse and Recycling Centre in Bromley manages paper, bottles, cans, batteries, white goods, metals and textiles. Churchfields Road reuse and recycling centre also in Bromley accepts a wide range of materials including hazardous waste like paint fluorescent tubes used engine oil and chemicals, which are notoriously difficult to dispose of. The recycling centre in SE28 in the London borough of Greenwich has an onsite rubbish tip for non-recyclable waste as well as accepting hard plastics such as toys and garden furniture as does the Landmann Way recycling centre in Lewisham, which also accepts old mattresses at the site.

Question 9

What rubbish collection services are available in South East London?

Accepted Answer

Mattress Collection & Disposal by London Councils costs at an average of £28. In Bexley, it costs more at £36 while Southwark, Bromley, and Greenwich residents are charged £18, £12 and £10 respectively. Lewisham residents receive free mattress collection and disposal services from their local authority. Sofa Collection costs an average of £22 among these 5 boroughs.

Need help with a waste clearance in South East London? Get in touch

Question 10

How is the local authority in South East London handling your waste?

Accepted Answer

Each borough in South East London works independently to manage waste, and this is a strategy that could be greatly improved by pooling resources. More can be achieved for the environment and in terms of improving living standards for people in south east London by working collaboratively, and councils are beginning to develop some joint plans and strategies going forward.

The key waste management figures for South East London's Council's are as follows:

· Overall annual spend on waste management £80,664,727
· Per person spend £44
· Landfill rate 64.46%
· Reuse and recycling rate 35.54%

As these figures show, much more can be achieved from joined up council services and initiatives to improve outcomes for the environment throughout the south east London area. The overall plan for waste management in London states that by 2030, 65% of the municipal waste will be recycled in the capital. However, south east London boroughs are carrying out some notable reuse and recycling projects independently, such as Greenwich council’s initiative for the repair and resale of bicycles to fundraise for the Greenwich and Bexley community Hospice.

Question 11

What are the plans for a greener future in South East London?

Accepted Answer

South East London’s environmental strategy has grown around a sense of collaboration between communities who are actively engaged with their local borough councils, and boroughs with predominantly residential populations are focused on improving access from all residents to bring waste disposal in line with government guidelines and meet targets for reuse and recycling in this area of the city.

Major plans for a greener future in south east London can be found in the south east London waste technical paper which is available for download from the relevant council websites. This paper outlines current development plans, future plans for waste, and the municipal waste management strategy for each south east London borough.

There are also several very committed non-governmental organisations and charities working towards a greener future in south east London and the surrounding areas. For example, The London Community Resource Network (LCRN) is a charity that hosts many projects and services to promote environmental awareness and sustainability throughout the capital including areas of south east London. For example, the real nappies for London campaign hosted by the London community resource centre works with residents in Bexley to educate parents and guardians in the use of non-disposable nappies. The LCRN also include information on their website about clothing repair events, their initiative for the refurbishment and redistribution of unwanted wooden furniture and white goods, and offer eco auditing for local businesses.

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