What an Asbestos Soil Removal Quote Typically Includes
If you find that the soil on your property is contaminated with asbestos, you will need to have the asbestos soil removed and disposed of offsite. The asbestos in or on soil can be classified as friable or non-friable. Friable asbestos is asbestos that can easily become airborne because it easily disintegrates into fibres when disturbed. It is also known as loosely-bound asbestos. On the other hand, non-friable asbestos is firmly-bound asbestos that does not easily break up to let asbestos fibres into the air. It is also called bonded asbestos.
The prices charged for asbestos soil removal services vary from contractor to contractor, but generally cover the following aspects:
Asbestos testing
The first thing that an asbestos removal contractor will do is to test the soils to determine how much asbestos is in the soil. Asbestos testing involves taking soil samples from the site and then taking them to an offsite lab for testing. Asbestos contractors must make sure they do not disturb the hazardous soils when they are taking samples, as this would increase exposure risks, especially when dealing with friable asbestos. Therefore, expect to pay for asbestos testing.
Asbestos remediation
Once the contractor has determined the asbestos content in the soil, they will have to choose the most effective method of removing the hazardous soils. Asbestos soils can be removed by handpicking or by excavation depending on the nature of the asbestos — whether the asbestos is fibrous or non-fibrous.
Fibrous asbestos is almost always expensive, as the hazardous soils may need to be excavated and proper safeguards must be undertaken to prevent the asbestos fibres from being released into the air. These may include covering the soil with plastic sheeting, using vacuums equipped with HEPA filters, wetting down airborne fibres with water spraying equipment and checking air quality with air monitoring equipment.
Where the asbestos is firmly-bound and is on the surface level, it can be handpicked. Handpicking is often less expensive compared to excavation because all of the safeguards needed to keep the asbestos out of the air might not need to be undertaken.
Transport and disposal offsite
Once all the asbestos has been removed, it will be transported to a landfill that can accept it. Therefore, your asbestos removal contractor will include the cost of hauling the hazardous soils away from your property and depositing the waste at the landfill in your quote.
Asbestos soil removal is a job that should be left to specialists because the hazardous soils present serious health and environmental safety risks. But as with any other kind of service, you deserve to know what you're paying for!