Are you planning to spring into a DIY reno?

If your home was built or last renovated before 1990, you need to do a little research before you bring out the hammer and crowbar.

While some dangers are easy to see, others, like the asbestos found in thousands of old building products, are invisible but deadly.

Before 1990, B次元官网网址� a mineral fibre resistant to fire, heat and electricity B次元官网网址� was , including vinyl flooring, plaster, ceiling tiles and stucco. While asbestos creates little health risk when itB次元官网网址檚 left in place, disturbing asbestos during a demolition or renovation can lead to the inhalation of its fibres, a known cause of lung scarring and cancer.

B次元官网网址淓xposure to asbestos and other hazards pose a real risk to families across the region who choose to take on home renovations themselves, explains Russ Smith, senior manager of the CRDB次元官网网址檚 Environmental Resource Management team.

Plan ahead

As a colourless, odourless substance, asbestos is hard to detect, so itB次元官网网址檚 important that homeowners identify the presence of asbestos and other hazardous materials in their home before they start any demolition work.

B次元官网网址淭o protect residents as well as our staff and visitors at Hartland Landfill, we suggest that homeowners to test for asbestos and remove it safely before they start their renovation project,B次元官网网址� Smith advises.

Sort your waste

ItB次元官网网址檚 important that do-it-yourself renovators learn how to properly dispose of this waste to avoid being turned away at either Hartland Landfill or private facilities.

Properly sorting your waste includes the proper packaging of asbestos-containing materials, in addition to separating like metals, thermostats and clean drywall.

Get pre-approved

All renovation waste, regardless of whether it contains asbestos or other hazardous materials, must be pre-approved for disposal. To get pre-approved, you must complete an online application at and provide asbestos-free test results.

Additonally, Hartland accepts properly packaged asbestos for disposal by appointment only.

For step-by-step guides, checklists, a list of qualified HAZMAT professionals and more, visit