Asbestos Disposal in South Australia
In South Australia the EPA regulates asbestos transport and disposal, and asbestos is a tracked waste whenever it is moved commercially.
Where asbestos waste can go
Asbestos waste must be taken to an EPA-licensed transfer station or waste depot authorised to receive it. It can't go in household bins, council hard-rubbish collections, or be dumped.
Official facility list: EPA SA: waste disposal facilities.
Find a licensed disposal facility in South Australia
Browse waste disposal facilities listed on Asbestos List for South Australia.
View SA disposal facilities →Who can remove and dispose of it
A homeowner doesn't need a licence to remove non-friable asbestos from their own property or to transport it to a licensed facility, but friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A licensed removalist, and only some depots accept friable material. Builders and tradies can't remove more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos without a licence. Call your chosen depot ahead for its requirements and costs.
How to package and label it
However you get asbestos to a facility, it has to be contained the same way:
- Keep the material wet and intact. Never break, cut or sand it to make it fit.
- Double-wrap sheets, or double-bag smaller pieces and dust, in heavy-duty 200-micron (0.2 mm) polythene plastic.
- Seal every join and bag opening with strong adhesive tape so nothing can escape.
- Fill bags no more than half full, then twist, fold and tape the neck closed.
- Label each package clearly as asbestos waste, for example "CAUTION ASBESTOS: DO NOT INHALE DUST".
Transporting and tracking the waste
A householder transporting their own non-friable asbestos doesn't need a licence; anyone transporting asbestos for fee or reward needs an EPA waste-transport licence. Asbestos is a listed, tracked waste (code N220): commercial movements need a consignment authorisation and a transport certificate with each load, quoting the SafeWork SA notification number for the removal job, unless the EPA grants an exemption.
Penalties for getting it wrong
The SA Government states penalties for illegal dumping can be as high as $500,000 or four years' imprisonment for an individual, and up to $2 million for a body corporate, under the Environment Protection Act 1993.
Specific to South Australia
- A householder can DIY-remove and transport non-friable asbestos, but friable asbestos must go to a Class A licensed removalist.
- If asbestos is mixed into another load (such as contaminated soil), the whole load is treated as asbestos waste.
- Contractors removing friable asbestos also need an EPA "Producer of Listed Waste" licence.
- South Australia requires air monitoring for both Class A and Class B removal work, stricter than the national code.
Who regulates this
- EPA South AustraliaAsbestos transport, tracking and disposal
- SafeWork SAAsbestos removal work and licensing
Not sure you should handle it yourself? Find a licensed asbestos removalist on Asbestos List, or read the Class A vs Class B licence guide to understand who can do what.
This information is a general reference for South Australia and can change. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant regulator and the receiving facility before transporting or disposing of asbestos waste.