Asbestos Hazards When Renovating Older Homes

Church Road Transfer Station

Waste gypsum produced from renovations and the demolition of structures built prior to 1990 is identified by WorkSafe BC as a suspected asbestos-containing material. The asbestos can be found in the drywall mud or joint filler and is hazardous waste.

The Church Road Transfer Station (CRTS) does not accept asbestos waste for disposal. CRTS facility staff will pre-screen the gypsum brought by homeowners, demolition contractors, carpenters and other contractors working on buildings built prior to 1990.

Homeowners' gypsum waste from pre-1990 buildings will be treated as suspect asbestos-containing material and allowed to proceed with the understanding that this material may contain asbestos. Facility staff will instruct homeowners to unload into a separate lined container.

Contractors with pre-1990 gypsum waste will be refused access unless they produce lab analysis that the gypsum does not contain asbestos. Pre–1990 gypsum that is clear of asbestos may be recycled.

Information For Homeowners

The following web sites and agencies can provide homeowners with information on asbestos-exposure prevention when doing renovations on an older home:

WorkSafe BC

asbestos web site HiddenKiller.ca

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

1-800-668-2642
www.cmhc.ca On the web site, search for "asbestos".

Health Canada

Phone: 1-604-666-2083
Web site: www.hc-sc.gc.ca On the web site, look for "asbestos" and "vermiculite" in the A-Z index.

RDN Solid Waste Services

250-390-6560 (Nanaimo)
250-954-3792 (Parksville)
250-248-5254 (Church Road Transfer Station)