Demolition & Drywall

When beginning a renovation or demolition project, find out if the waste materials in your home may contain asbestos.

Materials That May Contain Asbestos

Renovation or demolition materials such as gypsum wallboard, ceiling texture, wall tape and mud compound, floor tile, and attic insulation.

Up until 1990, asbestos was used in the manufacturing of gypsum wallboard, ceiling texture, wall tape and mud compound, linoleum flooring, as well as attic insulation. When these asbestos containing materials are disturbed (drilled, sawed, sanded, or broken up during renovation or demolition), workers or building occupants can breathe in hazardous asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to permanent lung damage. Anyone conducting a renovation or demolition project on a building suspected of containing pre-1990 building material should be aware of the risks and avoid exposure to asbestos. Materials that may contain asbestos should not be disturbed or removed without adequate knowledge and protective equipment.

Manufacturing date matters

When it comes to the disposal of renovation of demolition material that may contain asbestos, the key date is whether the building material was manufactured before 1990 or after 1990.

• If renovation or demolition materials were installed after 1990, you can safely remove and dispose of the materials at a CSRD refuse disposal facility, in accordance with the CSRD Disposal of Materials that May Contain Asbestos - Disposal Guidelines.
• If renovation or demolition materials were installed BEFORE 1990, these materials should be tested for the presence of asbestos (this involves the collection of samples by a qualified professional and analysis by an accredited laboratory), OR
• Safely handle and dispose of the material as though it does contains asbestos in accordance with the CSRD Disposal of Materials that May Contain Asbestos Disposal Guidelines (PDF).

If testing confirms the waste material does not contain asbestos, the materials can be safely removed and disposed in accordance with the CSRD Disposal of Materials that May Contain Asbestos - Disposal Guidelines at any CSRD Refuse Disposal Facility. 

If testing confirms the waste material does contain asbestos a qualified asbestos abatement company should be contacted to properly manage the safe removal and disposal. Or a competent asbestos management consultant should be contacted for guidance on how to carefully remove the material so as not to contaminate the rest of your home, and the material should be disposed in accordance with CSRD Disposal of Materials that May Contain Asbestos Disposal Guidelines (PDF).

For further information on working with asbestos please visit the WorkSafe BC website.

Disposal applications

For disposal of material that may contain asbestos, an Asbestos Disposal Application must be completed.