Question 1

Learn more about Asbestos Removal in Watford

Accepted Answer

A high level of asbestos awareness in society is so important, as well as a good understanding of the regulations and processes surrounding asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that is composed of several different minerals and has been around for thousands of years. There are two different types of asbestos: amphibole (blue and brown asbestos), and serpentine (white asbestos), the latter of which was more widely used. Despite this, amphibole was banned in the UK first in 1985. Asbestos was not completely banned in the UK until 1999. For this reason, it is not common to come across asbestos when construction work or renovations are being carried out. If this is the case, professional asbestos removal is required.

The toxic substance was used extensively between the 1960s and 1980s, despite warnings of health risks from as early as the 1940s. The material was used in building work due to its natural properties that made it ideal for construction such as resistance to fire, chemicals, water and biological resistance. It was used as insulation as well as in pipes, car engines and floor tiles.

Need help with asbestos removal in Watford? Get in touch.

Question 2

How dangerous is asbestos?

Accepted Answer

Asbestos waste is classed as a carcinogen for humans. It is extremely dangerous when inhaled and can cause serious diseases. Unfortunately, a BBC survey suggests that 45% of homeowners could not identify asbestos roofing, tiles and other types of asbestos waste if they came across it.

At Wayst we can advise you on what steps to take to identify asbestos in your home, and how to have suspected asbestos tested by asbestos surveyors before any work or removal takes place. The toxic substance can be found in thousands of homes in the UK due to its widespread use and it is essential that you check an area is asbestos free before having construction work carried out. If an area is not tested for asbestos and asbestos removal is not carried out, it could cause serious harm to yourself as well as those working on the area where the material is.

When asbestos waste is broken, its small fibres can not only be released into the air, but also into a water supply. These fibres cause several diseases as well as a thickening of the lung tissue. The substance is particularly harmful as all the illnesses that asbestos can lead to do not appear until years later and are usually hard to treat.

Question 3

How to check for asbestos?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, asbestos recycling is not possible in the UK and all asbestos waste must be professionally disposed of in landfill, making it not only harmful for humans but also harmful for the environment.
Do not check for asbestos yourself. Here at Wayst we always advise that you use the services of professional asbestos surveyors to check whether material in your home or business is asbestos or not. If you are certain that there is asbestos in your home, do not attempt asbestos removal yourself, even if you feel that you are taking enough precautions.

To test whether a substance is asbestos or not, a small fragment is taken as a sample and safely transported to a testing facility to determine whether it is hazardous or not. It is really important that you use a fully licensed business to get rid of your hazardous waste, otherwise it may fall into the wrong hands and could be fly-tipped or left in an area that is not meant for asbestos waste disposal. Asbestos can cause serious environmental damage, for example if disposed of in or near a water supply, the substance can still cause the same diseases when ingested as when it is inhaled.

A business is required to make a risk assessment of asbestos in their building and this must be surveyed.

Question 4

How asbestos is removed

Accepted Answer

It would be extremely dangerous to try and remove asbestos by yourself and without the proper PPE. A survey suggests that almost 50% of homeowners were not aware that asbestos was used as building material in the 20th century, and 45% would not know how to identify it. You may be handling asbestos without realising what it is.

At Wayst, our specialist asbestos partners remove asbestos safely, and provide you with all the correct documentation so you know that it has been disposed of correctly. There are a number of private companies in Watford that will help you to dispose of asbestos, as well as council-run facilities. Hertfordshire County Council offers a service to dispose of small amounts of domestic asbestos waste and it is advised by the Watford Council website to read the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance sheet on asbestos removal. The City of London hazardous waste disposal service will also dispose of small amounts of asbestos upon request; however, they do not carry out asbestos removals or dispose of asbestos from commercial buildings or schools. Wayst will work with trusted asbestos removal service providers to carefully remove asbestos from either your home or business.

In some cases, asbestos only needs to be sprayed with an adhesive so that the fibres remain sealed. This way, the asbestos is no longer a risk to health and can be left where it is. Asbestos is disposed of by being removed from the area, double-bagged and then contained in a lockable zipped bag. This is then safely transported to a site where it can be destroyed.

Question 5

Asbestos Removal Cost

Accepted Answer

Asbestos removal can be costly as it is so hazardous and dangerous to remove. Prices for asbestos removal in Watford can range between £200-£2,500 plus VAT, which largely depends on the type and amount of asbestos that needs disposing of and where it is within the building.

Question 6

Asbestos Awareness

Accepted Answer

All asbestos must be removed by a licenced asbestos removal company and all waste carriers must provide a consignment note. Asbestos surveyors and other trained professionals must be consulted before the removal of asbestos and all of these processes must adhere to the hazardous waste disposal regulations set out by the government which place responsibilities upon employers, employees, and duty holders (the people in charge of the building).

Question 7

What you need to know about Watford

Accepted Answer

Situated in Hertfordshire in North West London, Watford is the municipal town of Watford borough along the Thames tributary River Colne. Historically a place of industry along the Grand Junction Canal, several major companies still base their headquarters in the town's commercial district, including Ralph Lauren UK, the Hilton regional office and JD wetherspoon. Watford Junction station provides plenty of network rail links towards London city centre and the home counties, and the surrounding parks, nature reserves and schools for children of all ages make Watford a popular destination for families moving to the area. There is also a range of tourist attractions in Watford including 3 theatres, museums and major parks in addition to 92 nationally listed buildings. In terms of transport Watford is also well connected with local transport for London underground tube and bus links, 3 main railway stations towards Euston, Milton Keynes and the Midlands, and an hour away from Heathrow airport by bus, which operates on weekdays.

Question 8

What are the different ways to dispose of waste in Watford?

Accepted Answer

There is a choice of highly recommended waste clearance companies in the neighbourhood just to the south of Watford Junction station that offer competitively priced and professional services, including 2 skip hire companies, 4 rubbish clearance companies, and a house clearance provider offering general junk removal. There are also two local authority recycling centres in Waterdale and Rickmansworth run by Hertfordshire county council. Watford residents are also provided with standard waste disposal solutions from Watford council for dry mixed recycling, food waste and residual waste, for which residents are provided with color coded bins. It should be noted that leaving waste outside your house on the street or on the ground by litter bins is considered fly tipping by the council. It is also the householders responsibility to ensure that any private waste carriers they hire are licensed and provide them with a waste transfer note.

Question 9

Where are the nearest recycling centres in Watford

Accepted Answer

There are two recycling centres available to Watford residents. The first is the Waterdale (Garston) recycling centre in WD25 which is open Mon-Thurs and on weekends. There is an online queue cam on the council website so visitors can keep track of on site waiting times, and there is also a reuse centre at Waterdale that sells second hand refurbished furniture, toys, sporting equipment, and pet carriers. The other available recycling centre in st Albans is open from Thursday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They also provide estimated queue times on the website, however it is best to plan for a minimum wait of at least 30 mins.

Question 10

What rubbish collection services are available in Watford?

Accepted Answer

Watford council offers standard recycling collections for households using a color coded bins system. Green bins can accept real christmas trees garden waste and bedding for small animals. Blue bins for mixed dry recycling can accept a wide range of different plastic packaging tubes, pots and trays, used tin foil and takeaway containers and glossed paper products such as magazines and envelopes with plastic windows. The black bin takes thin plastics like cling film, film lids, crisp packets, plastic egg boxes, blister pill packs and bread wrappers. Food waste which is a primary concern for the environment is collected from brown bins which can accept used kitchen roll, bones shells and eggshells among other related food waste.

Need help with a waste clearance in Watford? Get in touch

Question 11

How is the local authority in Watford handling your waste?

Accepted Answer

Watford is connected to the wider Hertfordshire strategy for handling waste in the area, and will stand to benefit from its plans for improved waste management facilities and handling of residual waste, organic waste and recycled waste. The plans for a new waste transfer station and waste collection authority depots will be part of a network of 4 waste management facilities consisting of 2 composting facilities, a materials recovery facility, (MRF) and an anaerobic digestion facility, all within 30 miles of the centre of Hertfordshire. This will see that waste from Watford will be recycled at a higher rate and will improve long term environmental outcomes. Watford council are also running a campaign to reduce food waste in the borough by raising public awareness in terms of planning meals, storing food correctly, and freezing fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and dairy produce. The council also provides links to further guidance on how to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away on lovefoodhatewaste.com which includes free resources to help you manage food waste at home.

Watford Council's Waste Management Performance:

· Overall annual spend on waste management £25,124,214.78
· Per person spend £63
· Landfill rate 51.04%
· Reuse and recycling rate 48.96%

Question 12

What are the plans for a greener future in Watford?

Accepted Answer

Watford is part of the ‘waste aware’ partnership of county, district and borough councils in Hertfordshire, which is a municipal waste strategy aimed at reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering as much waste as possible from the area. Climate change has made technological innovation and the preservation of natural resources a priority for local authorities to consider when planning, strategizing and implementing practices for the collection, transfer and treatment of waste. There are plenty of open green spaces in and around Watford, however they can be hard to access without the appropriate roads and footpaths linking them to the surrounding towns and villages, and this is also on the agenda for the Hertfordshire waste aware partnership, as they recognise that more needs to be invested into making green spaces easily accessible, and improving overall access to the countryside.

Watford has also invested in cycle lane infrastructure to support greener methods of transport in the town centre, making over 15 kilometers of new cycle routes accessible through the provision of cycle maps and bike parks situated in the centre of Watford and the surrounding areas. The Watford Cycle Hub is a local organisation that supports children and adults to learn how to cycle and basic bike maintenance. They also hold 1 to 1 classes to build the confidence, safety and the proficiency of cyclists in the area to encourage people to choose their bikes over cars when travelling locally.

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