Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Disposal of Household Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that was used in many applications for it's fire resistance and insulation properties.  Common uses include pipe insulation, floor tiles, and house insulation.  Asbestos-containing materials may be either friable or nonfriable.  Friable asbestos can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry and is the most dangerous form.  Inhalation of asbestos fibers may cause cancer, and INHALATION OF ASBESTOS FIBERS AND DUST MUST BE AVOIDED.  The most important thing in handling, transporting, or disposing of friable asbestos is to do so in a manner which prevents airborne release. 

Nonfriable asbestos cannot easily be pulverized or reduced to a powder.  Resilient floor tile, adhesive sheet vinyl flooring, roof felts, asphalt tiles, asphalts, mastics, and transite roofing shingles, siding and pipe are generally considered nonfriable forms of asbestos.  Nonfriable asbestos that is damaged to the extent that it becomes friable must be handled and packaged like friable asbestos wastes. 

Asbestos is regulated under the authority of multiple statutes.  The Air Pollution Control Division Asbestos Unit (303-692-3150) regulates the safe removal and handling of asbestos materials (abatement), while the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division regulates the proper disposal of asbestos wastes.

Although homeowners may remove asbestos in their primary residence themselves without obtaining a permit and without notifying the Air Pollution Control Division Asbestos Unit of their activities, it is strongly suggested that they utilize a certified asbestos contractor to minimize the risk of releasing asbestos fibers.  If they choose to remove the asbestos themselves, they should contact the Asbestos Unit for health and safety precautions.  Protective clothing such as breathing protection, eye protection and long sleeves should be worn, and care should be taken not to breathe any dust. 

Disclaimer

Disposal

Homeowners and/or their certified asbestos contractors must dispose of waste asbestos materials properly.  Landfills operators are required to handle asbestos wastes separately from other wastes.  Non-friable asbestos may be accepted by any landfill as long as the landfill operator is contacted for approval prior to disposal.  Friable asbestos and nonfriable asbestos damaged to the point of being friable may be disposed of at only four Colorado landfills expressly authorized to accept friable asbestos wastes.  These include:

Denver-Arapahoe Disposal Site (303-690-4303)
Conservation Services Inc. Landfill (303-644-4332)
Tower Landfill (303-371-5115)
Mesa County Landfill (970-241-6846) (accepted from Mesa County only)

Labeling for Disposal

Friable asbestos waste must be properly packaged before being sent to the landfill.  It must be tightly sealed in at least two 6-mil, leak-tight polyethylene bags or in a wrapping or other container deemed equivalent by the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division.  The outermost layer of the packaging must be labeled with a waste shipment manifest label that gives the name and address of the generator of the waste, and either of the following statements in letters at least 0.5 inches tall:

CAUTION
Contains Asbestos
Avoid Opening Or Breaking Container
Breathing Asbestos Is Hazardous
To Your Health

or

DANGER
Contains Asbestos Fibers
Avoid Creating Dust
Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard

There are no state regulations regarding the packaging of nonfriable asbestos for disposal, though local landfills may have their own requirements.

See also Asbestos Waste Disposal Compliance Bulletin

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