Information
Why Is This Necessary?
Often times, we get calls from people who don't understand or question the reasons as to why they need an asbestos survey prior to demolition or renovation. Some people get upset they have to jump through the hoops, while others are more than happy to comply with regulation.
Perhaps the most frequent complaint we get is, "What difference does it make? They just throw it in the landfill with the rest of the stuff anyway. It is just a rip off to have to pay you guys to do this and these regulations are outrageous."
The concern with making sure the asbestos is removed entirely from a structure prior to demolition has nothing to do with where it is disposed of. It has to do with the dust cloud that is created because of a demolition. Remember 9/11? Remember how New York City was blanketed with a cloud of dust from the Twin Towers? Yup, some of it was asbestos containing material. Asbestos becomes a danger when the fibers are airborne and they can be easily breathed or ingested. Ultimately, they can cause cancers and infections in the body. Therefore, it is important to always take the proper safety precautions.
Secondly, where do you think asbestos comes from? Do you think it is a man-made material? The name Asbestos encompasses a wide definition of mineral fiber crystals that exist in the ground, naturally. The material is still mined today in many places around the world. There are many different kinds of these crystalline fiber forms, thus there are many different forms of asbestos. The crystalline structure of the minerals and how the molecules are bond together define the type of asbestos.
As you can see, it is important to have the asbestos removed from your structure before you demolish or disturb. The material and this process is regulated for a reason. Yes, the asbestos does go back into the landfill, back in the ground, where it came from in the first place.