Asbestos Removal in South West London

South West London is home to almost 2 million people. Last year the area disposed of over 150,000 tonnes of hazardous waste from various settings including commercial buildings, construction sites and hospitals. One of the main types of hazardous waste can be found in homes across the South West London area and indeed the whole country is asbestos. Asbestos is a material made from microscopic fibres and was used extensively in construction until it was banned in 1999. Commercial and residential properties built between 1960 and 1990 are the places where asbestos is most commonly found, usually utilised as insulation in flooring, roofing, pipes and boilers.
Due to being hidden away as insulation or inside piping, many people do not know the extent of the asbestos in their homes. Prolonged exposure to asbestos that has been disturbed or damaged can cause serious long-term illnesses and diseases, but if it is left untouched, the substance poses little to no threat.

Most of the South West London boroughs do not offer their own asbestos removal service; they choose to use the City of London hazardous waste disposal service instead. Both the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) and the West London Waste Authority (WLWA) promote the use of this service to their residents, as many of the recycling centres within their jurisdictions do not accept asbestos. Notable exceptions to this would be West London’s Abbey Road recycling centre and Merton’s Garth Road recycling centre who do accept small amounts of wetted down asbestos. Remember to always call in advance to book a time slot and make them aware of the asbestos when disposing of it at a public recycling centre.

At Wayst, we help residents and business owners in South West London dispose of their asbestos by connecting them with our network of highly trained asbestos removal teams. We strongly suggest using a professional service when it comes to any type of asbestos removal from your home or business, due to the duty of care laws that govern workplaces. Wayst also makes sure that our asbestos removal partners dispose of asbestos in an environmentally friendly way. Our company ethos directs us to work towards preserving our environment and creating a more sustainable waste industry.

Need help with asbestos removal in South West London? Our team are always on hand to help.

Asbestos-related illness’ cause an estimated 13 deaths per day in the UK, with many more hospitalised. Most of those affected by these illnesses are tradespeople who worked on houses containing asbestos, so it is vital to check that your property is asbestos-free before having work carried out on it. The danger of asbestos is not usually an immediate one, as most of the related illnesses stem from long-term exposure to damaged asbestos and can take decades before they start showing symptoms.
Broken or damaged asbestos is most harmful; the tiny fibres escape into the air and can cause damage and scarring to the throat and lungs. Exposure to these fibres can result in painful respiratory issues that lead to difficulty breathing over time. Checking and testing for asbestos is the best way to limit the chance of it negatively affecting you or your contractors and always ensure you carry out professional asbestos removal services.

As the population of South West London grows, more of the large, older buildings may be converted into houses or renovated by their owners. Due to the relatively recent ban on asbestos, the older a building is, the more likely it is to contain asbestos. Research data suggests that across the UK, almost 50% of homes include some form of asbestos. If you wish to conduct any construction work on your home or business and suspect there may be asbestos present, it is crucial to conduct a thorough check.

Although a thorough check is a good start, asbestos was commonly used as insulation in roofs and walls, sometimes in sheds and garages, making it challenging to identify visually. For this reason, many of the South West London boroughs suggest having an asbestos surveyor visit your property and take away samples for testing. There are several testing facilities across London, as well independent asbestos surveyors on the Wayst platform.

At Wayst, we strongly recommend that you do not try to test for asbestos yourself and that you instead enlist the services of professionals to carry this out. We can give you expert advice and then connect you with the most appropriate licenced company to inspect suspected asbestos in your home, preventing you from causing any harm to yourself or others before compliant asbestos removal.

Should you require asbestos removal from your home or business in South West London, the method of removal will depend on the state of the asbestos, the amount of it and where it is within the building. If the material is in good condition, then it may be possible to encase it by spraying it with an adhesive, preventing any future damage or dust escaping and reducing the potential risks significantly compared to disturbing it during removal. Asbestos cement offers the least risk compared to other versions of the material and can therefore be removed by an unlicensed contractor, subject to its condition. It is worth remembering that as time goes by, the state of the asbestos will deteriorate, so it is important to act sooner rather than later.

Here at Wayst, we strongly suggest leaving any work with asbestos to our trained asbestos removal partners. Not only are they licensed and have permits to remove hazardous materials, but they are also trained extensively in the correct procedures of asbestos removal. Removal teams come equipped with the correct PPE, like respirators and other useful tools for the job. Our asbestos removal teams utilise specialised vacuum tools to ensure that none of the asbestos dust is left behind, along with a strict cleaning practise of mopping and wiping down areas that have come into contact with the asbestos. Our partners then transport the asbestos to specialist waste transfer sites as close by to South West London to be safely disposed of.

Prices for an asbestos surveyor to test for asbestos start at around £100+VAT depending on the size of the property, the number of samples and amount of asbestos. The City of London asbestos collection is free up until 15 sqm of asbestos has been collected, the service does not include any of the wrapping or materials required for the preparation of the asbestos sheets before pickup.

We have handpicked the South West London’s most qualified asbestos removal specialists to offer asbestos removal on the Wayst platform alongside other specialist services. We provide free quotes for the work which will vary considerably on the scope of the job required. For example, removing a garage roof starts at just under £400+VAT. Conversely, removal of asbestos artex (a decorative surface coating) from the ceiling of two rooms can cost up to £2000+VAT.

Due to the legal obligations and duty of care requirements, it is essential that any asbestos removal service hired to remove, transport or dispose of asbestos has the right qualifications and training standards. Asbestos removal requires licencing by the Environment Agency, as does the transportation of asbestos. The removal company must also be able to produce a valid waste transfer note according to the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Additionally, all asbestos testing labs in the UK must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.