How much does asbestos-contaminated soil disposal cost?

The final ban on all forms of asbestos in the UK in 1999 spelt the end of the “asbestos century”, the substance having first been commercially mined during the mid-19th century.

However, this outlawing of the material did not spell an end to the impacts of asbestos on many people’s lives, or the risks this notorious carcinogen can still present at buildings and sites up and down the country.

This brings us onto the subject of how asbestos can end up contaminating soil, and what steps need to be taken to identify and address such contamination – including the costs involved.

What is asbestos-contaminated soil, and why is it a problem?

The term “asbestos-contaminated soil” refers, of course, to soil in which asbestos fibres are present. There are a number of circumstances in which these barely visible, but potentially lethal fibres can end up being contained within soil in the UK:

• Demolition waste: in cases where a building dating from before the year 2000 has been demolished with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) still inside, asbestos may find its way into the soil at the brownfield site.
• Improper disposal: attempts may have been made to remove and dispose of ACMs from a building prior to demolition, only for some asbestos products or fibres to have been left behind. Certain ACMs, such as asbestos lagged pipes and ducts, may have already been underground at the given site, and may not have been properly removed.
• Historic industrial use: there are various sites around the UK where manufacturing used to take place, and in which ACMs were involved. Substandard waste management processes at such sites may have led to asbestos fibres becoming embedded in the ground.

For as long as asbestos is present in soil, it can pose a number of serious risks:

• Health risks can arise due to the scope for future disturbance to occur to the ACMs. This could result in airborne asbestos fibres being breathed in by someone nearby. Such an event could heighten the exposed individual’s likelihood of developing a potentially fatal disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, in later life.
• Legal risks can occur in relation to the stringent regulations that now apply to asbestos management in the UK. The owners and managers of non-domestic sites across the country have a duty of care under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012). The consequences of seriously breaching these regulations can include unlimited fines and/or imprisonment for up to two years.
• Environmental risks from asbestos remaining in the ground can be considerable. This substance can easily settle in soil and nearby water sources – and as it does not readily break down, it can remain a contaminant for a long time.

How can you identify asbestos in soil?

If you are responsible for a given site and you are unsure whether asbestos could be present in the ground, you might decide to take the following steps:

• Look out for visual clues: we have written in the past about what various forms of ACMs look like, and how you might identify them. Knowing this information might help you spot suspected fragments of asbestos cement, remnants of asbestos insulation, or other materials at your site that could possibly be ACMs.
• Asbestos testing and surveys: it is important to emphasise that visual inspection alone can never definitively confirm whether ACMs are, or are not, present in soil. If, then, you suspect ACMs might exist in your own soil, the next step we would typically recommend is arranging for a full asbestos land contamination survey to be carried out. Professional investigation and testing will enable you to uncover vital details.

There are two types of site investigations for asbestos-contaminated land that our team at Oracle Solutions typically conducts: WAC testing and asbestos in soil testing.

When you turn to professional asbestos consultants to undertake testing for asbestos in soil at your site, you will need to be sure of their compliance with relevant legal requirements. Such obligations are set out in legislation such as CAR 2012 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

What are the UK regulations for asbestos-contaminated soil disposal?

There are various legal factors that you will need to be aware of when you are seeking to manage asbestos-contaminated soil responsibly, with a view to potential disposal:

• Duty of care and legal responsibility: CAR 2012 introduces the concept of the “dutyholder”, who has the “duty to manage” asbestos risks at a particular site. This is typically the landowner or the person with control over the particular land or property.
• Waste classification: as the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out, asbestos waste in England and Wales is “hazardous waste” when it contains more than 0.1% asbestos. Such hazardous waste will need to be carefully bagged and labelled as hazardous; furthermore, it must only be disposed of at a licensed site.
• Relevant UK legislation: when you are looking to dispose of asbestos waste from your soil in a responsible manner, you will need to be mindful of – and adhere to – various UK laws and guidelines. These will encompass the likes of CAR 2012, guidance from the Environment Agency, and potential Land Remediation Relief tax incentives.

What factors affect the cost of disposing of asbestos-contaminated soil?

Various aspects will impact on how much you can expect to spend on disposing of asbestos-contaminated soil at your site:

• The extent of contamination: if there is a high concentration of asbestos fibres in your soil, and/or the volume of contaminated soil at your site is high, this will drive up the cost of disposal. This is because in such circumstances, there will be a need for more extensive and rigorous removal and handling procedures, as well as increased transportation and removal fees.
• Disposal method(s): typically, when it is discovered that soil is contaminated with asbestos, there are two broad approaches for removing and disposing of it: asbestos litter picking, or the complete removal of the soil and waste. The exact removal and disposal methods followed, and the complexity of the task, will inevitably impact on the probable costs.
• Location and transportation costs: the availability and proximity of licensed asbestos waste disposal facilities can significantly vary across the UK. So, this – in turn – can be a further influence on the costs of disposing of asbestos-contaminated soil.
• Additional expenses: as we referenced above, amateur visual inspection of suspected ACMs in the ground is not enough in order to confirm whether such materials do contain asbestos. So, professional services such as soil testing need to be accounted for in your management of potentially asbestos-contaminated soil.

How much does it cost to remove asbestos-contaminated soil in the UK?

Let’s set out some raw numbers on how much you can expect to pay to have asbestos-contaminated soil removed from your land in the UK:

• Typical price ranges: the cost of disposal at licensed landfill sites is usually around £50 to £250 per tonne, depending on the level of asbestos contamination.

Below is a breakdown of approximate costs that can be expected for stages of the asbestos-contaminated soil management, removal, and disposal process:

• Initial soil testing: £395 to £3,000, depending on the size of the site
• Excavation and removal: £100 to £200 per tonne
• Transportation to a licensed landfill site: £45 to £110 per tonne depending on location
• Land remediation costs: variable, from potentially as little as £5,000, to as much as £100,000 or more for larger projects

There have been various real-world case studies down the years that have highlighted the issues confronting UK farms or construction sites dealing with asbestos in soil.

Here at Oracle Solutions, we have long drawn attention to some of the severe consequences that can await landowners and dutyholders if they do not adopt the right practices:

• A former builder who allowed the dumping of asbestos on his land near his Devon home was hit with a 32-month jail sentence, as well as a £200,000 confiscation order.
• Two construction-firm directors who failed to remove asbestos safely from a plot of land pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They each had a £1,400 fine imposed on them, in addition to each being ordered to pay costs of £2,418.33.

What are the best disposal and remediation actions for asbestos-contaminated soil?

Below, we have outlined a range of legally compliant, safe, and responsible ways to deal with asbestos-contaminated soil at a given site:

Off-site disposal at licensed landfills

As we referenced above, asbestos litter picking may be an option for the removal of asbestos from contaminated land. This service involves asbestos debris being picked by hand and collected into suitable asbestos waste sacks for disposal.

Asbestos litter picking may be the preferred option in cases where the only identified ACMs are on the surface of the soil, and where the asbestos is in larger visible fragments.

However, in many cases, the asbestos contamination will be beneath the soil’s surface. In such situations, the ACMs may be significantly fragmented or in fibrous form. If so, it is likely that the complete removal of the contaminated soil and waste will be needed, followed by transportation to a licensed asbestos landfill site for disposal.

Whichever method you choose for the removal and disposal of asbestos-contaminated waste in soil, it will be of critical importance to make sure strict and legally compliant control measures are followed.

On-site remediation methods

It is not automatically the case that any asbestos-contaminated soil at a given site will always need to be removed. That’s because various options may exist for the on-site remediation of any such ACMs at your site, depending on the nature of the site and the contamination level.

You might also think about soil washing and chemical stabilisation, whereby contaminants would be removed and the structure of the soil strengthened.

There can also be effective capping and containment strategies for asbestos-contaminated soil. Such an approach would entail a physical barrier – such as a geomembrane – being installed over the contaminated soil to guard against any risk of future exposure to asbestos fibres.  

Can you reduce the cost of asbestos-contaminated soil disposal?

There are numerous means by which someone with responsibility for asbestos-contaminated soil may be able to drive down the expense incurred in removing and disposing of it:

• Taking advantage of Land Remediation Relief, amounting to tax relief of as much as 150% for asbestos-contaminated land: this could be an option if you own the land and are not the original polluter.
• Choosing the right asbestos removal contractors: partnering with an accredited and experienced asbestos removal company that has a strong reputation for efficient and cost-effective solutions, can greatly help you save money in the long run.
• Minimising waste and cost through other best practices, such as the segregation of contaminated soil, the testing of soil prior to excavation, and/or the use of alternative remediation and disposal methods.

Final thoughts and next steps

Whatever actions you take with regard to suspected or confirmed asbestos contamination of soil for which you are responsible, you will need to ensure your constant compliance with relevant UK regulations.

As we have addressed above, there can be serious consequences arising from any improper handling of asbestos, including – from the legal perspective – prosecution and fines.

So, if you are unsure what steps to take in relation to your own land where you suspect asbestos to be present, it is advisable that you reach out to reputable asbestos consultants, schedule asbestos testing, and take advantage of a suitably accredited asbestos disposal service.

Contact Oracle Solutions, and we will be pleased to carry out an asbestos contaminated land survey, asbestos in soil testing, or other necessary investigations at your site. This will then enable you to take well-informed and cost-effective steps to address any asbestos risks your land might pose.