Asbestos, fibre-cement sheeting, builders, renovation waste and paint | Asbestos, building and renovation waste | Redland City Council

Asbestos, building and renovation waste

Asbestos, fibre-cement sheeting, builders, renovation waste and paint

To keep our community and workers safe, all asbestos, suspected asbestos and renovation waste is treated with caution as it may contain harmful materials. Before visiting a Recycling and Waste centre, please ensure you follow the conditions of disposal.

Asbestos, builders or renovation waste should not be placed in any kerbside (general waste, recycling or green waste) or bulky waste collection bin. Placing this waste in bins is a danger to drivers, recycling/waste disposal centres and to our community.  

For your safety, the safety of others and to protect our environment and to avoid a penalty, don't dump waste illegally. 

Asbestos

All asbestos, fibre-cement sheeting, asbestos or possible/potential asbestos-containing material must be:

  • No more than 10m2* or 175kg per load
  • Double wrapped in thick (0.2mm) plastic sheeting
  • Securely sealed with duct tape
  • Unloaded by hand into the designated bin
  • Declared at the gatehouse. This is a legislative requirement

*Example dimensions for 10 square metres are 5m x 2m, or 4m x 2.5m.

Redland City Council complies with asbestos-related legislation. Our staff are informed on the types of waste that could contain asbestos and as a precaution, we treat the following waste as containing asbestos. The following material types are treated in the same manner as asbestos-containing materials:

  • Fibro
  • Villa board
  • Millboard
  • Super six roof sheeting
  • Cement sheeting
  • Hardie flex
  • Insulation board
  • Backing material on vinyl sheet flooring and tiles
  • Masonite

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occuring minerals. Their ability to resist high temperatures and fire made them effective insulators and as such, they were used in many Australian buildings constructed between 1940s to 1987. Until 1984, asbestos was used in fibre-cement building products in Australia such as sheeting, water drainage, roofing and guttering.

Asbestos fibres are around 50 to 200 times thinner than a human hair. Asbestos in good condition is unlikely to be a health risk if left undisturbed. It becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in.

Asbestos safety advice

When removing asbestos materials, it needs to be handled and disposed of very carefully.

Advice on the identification, risks and safe-handling of asbestos has been published by the Australian Government in Asbestos safety for householders and home renovators

Useful safety advice is also available at:

Disposal fees

There is no fee for residents (with proof of residency and photo ID).

Commercial operators and non-residents attract a fee. Current fees are available on the Redland City Council fees and charges page.

Disposal at Recycling and Waste Centres

Material containing asbestos or other types of fibre-cement that measures less than 10m2 (or 175kg) can be disposed of at:

Load inspections

Our staff routinely inspect loads arriving at Recycling and Waste Centres.

Anyone carrying asbestos or fibre-cement sheeting that hasn’t been declared to the gatehouse or isn’t wrapped appropriately or measures more than 10m2 / 175kg, will be asked to leave the centre and return once the material is properly wrapped for disposal.

Certification required for large removals

If you are planning to remove up to 10m2 of materials containing asbestos, you do not require an asbestos removal certificate.

Removal of more than 10m2 of material containing asbestos requires a current A or B Class asbestos removal certificate.

  • Only registered businesses can hold an A Class certificate.
  • Individuals and businesses can hold a B Class certificate.

Find a business or discover how to train for your own certificate at Asbestos removal and licensing.

Paint and packaging

Paint and paint packaging can be disposed of at our Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre – accepted from residents and commercial operators. No fees apply. Paint can also be dropped off at any paintback drop off location, including the Chandler Resource Recovery Centre. 

There is a drop-off limit of 100L per visit in secured containers of 20L or less. Paint cannot be decanted on site and the container cannot be taken home. Broken, leaking or unsealed containers will not be accepted. 

The following items are accepted:

  • Interior and exterior paint (including architectural paint) – water and solvent-based
  • Deck coatings
  • Floor paints
  • Primers
  • Undercoats
  • Sealers
  • Stains
  • Shellacs
  • Varnishes
  • Urethanes
  • Wood coatings (containing no pesticides)

For further information on the types of paint accepted and how paint and packaging is recycled, visit Paint Back

 

Builders and renovation waste – residential and commercial

Below is a list of Recycling and Waste Centres that accept builders or renovation waste.

Residential

  • Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting (less than 10m2 or 175kg)*
    • Bricks and concrete – only from residential vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
    • Clean fill and soil – in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
  • Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting (less than 10m2 or 175kg)* Residential only.
    • Bricks and concrete – only from residential vehicles with a Combined Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
    • Clean fill and soil – in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
  • Macleay Island Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting (less than 10m2 or 175kg)*
    • Bricks and concrete – up to 0.25m3 in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
    • No clean fill/soil
  • Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting (less than 10m2 or 175kg)*
    • Bricks and concrete – up to 0.25m3 in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes 
    • No clean fill/soil

Commercial and non-residents (fees apply)

  • Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting*
    • Bricks, concrete, builders or renovation waste
    • Commercial mixed waste
    • Clean fill and soil – up to one cubic metre only
  • Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre:
    • Commercial mixed waste – vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of under 4.5 tonnes
    • No bricks, concrete, builders or renovation waste
    • No clean fill/soil

*All asbestos, fibre-cement sheeting must be double wrapped in 0.2mm plastic sheeting and fully sealed. Customers with abestos or suspected asbestos (including fibre-cement sheeting) not properly wrapped will be turned away. See above for more information related to asbestos.