Think You Have Asbestos? What to Do Before You Order a Skip

This is for homeowners around Penrith, the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury and Blacktown who are mid-renovation or a big clean-up, have knocked into some old sheeting or lining, and are now wondering two things: is it asbestos, and can it go in the skip?

Short answer: if you think it might be asbestos, don’t put it in a skip bin and don’t keep working on it. Get it checked, get it removed safely by a licensed removalist, and get in touch with us before you book, we’ll help you navigate the right steps, then sort a skip for the rest of your clean-up once it’s been properly handled.

How to Tell If You Might Have Asbestos

Short answer: you can’t tell by looking. If your home was built before 1990 and you’re not sure what a sheeting, lining or ceiling material is, treat it as asbestos until it’s tested.

Asbestos was used all through Australian homes until it was fully banned at the end of 2003. In houses built before 1990 it commonly turns up in:

• Fibro cement sheeting — flat or corrugated, inside and out
• Textured “popcorn” or stipple ceilings
• Vinyl floor tiles and the adhesive underneath
• Eave, bathroom and laundry lining boards
• Old roof sheeting and guttering
• Lagging around old pipes and flues

The risk comes from disturbing it — sanding, cutting or drilling releases the fibres. Material that’s intact and left alone is far lower risk. If you’re unsure, stop, and get it confirmed by an accredited assessor or a lab test. SafeWork NSW has guidance on finding a licensed assessor, and it’s not expensive to know for sure.

Why It Can’t Just Go in the Skip

Short answer: putting asbestos in a skip bin is illegal, and it puts you, our drivers and the next site at risk.

Loose or improperly handled asbestos can’t go in any open skip, bag or general bin. The fibres are the danger — and an open bin being loaded, lifted, transported and tipped is exactly the kind of disturbance that releases them. That’s why it has to be removed and contained properly by someone licensed before any of it goes anywhere.

What to Do Before You Order a Skip

If you think you’ve found asbestos, work through these before you book a bin:

• Stop disturbing it. Don’t sand, cut, drill or break it. Keep the area clear.
• Get it confirmed. An accredited assessor or a lab test tells you exactly what you’re dealing with and which removal path applies.
• Use a licensed removalist. In NSW a homeowner can remove small amounts of non-friable (bonded) asbestos — under 10 square metres — from their own home, but for anything larger, or any friable (crumbly) material at all, a licensed removalist is legally required. Even under that limit, a licensed removalist has the gear and the disposal sorted, so it’s usually worth the call. (See SafeWork NSW for the current rules.)
• Talk to us early. Get in touch before you book — we’ll help you work out your next steps and make sure your skip is set up correctly for the rest of the job.

How Ezi-Bin Helps

We’re skip bin hire, not a licensed asbestos removalist, so we won’t pretend to take it away for you. What we will do is help you navigate it. Think you may have asbestos? Get in touch and we can help you with getting it removed safely, point you in the right direction, and then sort a skip for the rest of your renovation or clean-up once the asbestos has been properly handled.

It’s better to call us before you order than to fill a bin and find out it can’t be collected. If you’re not sure what you’ll need for the rest of the job, our guide to what size skip bin you need is a good place to start — and if you’re weighing up a bag versus a bin, we cover that too. We’d rather help you get it right from the start.

When This Isn’t For You

If you’re dealing with a commercial property, a demolition, or a large quantity of asbestos, the rules are different and you’ll need a licensed asbestos assessor overseeing the job — contact SafeWork NSW directly. And if you’re outside Penrith, the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury or Blacktown, give us a call to check we service your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put asbestos in a skip bin?

No. Asbestos can’t go in any open skip, bag or general bin — it’s illegal and unsafe, because loading and tipping disturbs the fibres. It needs to be removed and contained by a licensed removalist first. If you think you’ve got it, get in touch before you book and we’ll help you sort the right approach.

How do I know if it’s asbestos?

You can’t tell just by looking. If your home was built before 1990 and you’re unsure about a sheeting, lining or ceiling material, treat it as asbestos until it’s confirmed by an accredited assessor or a lab test. SafeWork NSW can point you to a licensed assessor.

Do I always need a licensed removalist?

In NSW a homeowner can remove under 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos from their own home. Above that, or for any friable (crumbly) asbestos, a licensed removalist is legally required. Even for small jobs, a licensed removalist brings the right protection and disposal — often worth it for the peace of mind.

Can Ezi-Bin remove the asbestos for me?

If you think you may have asbestos, get in touch and we’ll help you navigate getting it removed safely, then sort a skip for the rest of your clean-up once it’s been properly handled.

What should I do right now if I think I’ve found it?

Stop work and don’t disturb it — no sanding, cutting or drilling. Keep the area clear, get it assessed, and give us a call. We’ll help you work out the next steps before you order a bin.

Ezi-Bin provides skip bin hire across Penrith, the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury, Blacktown and surrounding Western Sydney suburbs. Not sure where to start? Get in touch and we’ll help.