All businesses and citizens must properly dispose of regulated waste materials according to solid waste rules. They also must comply with any local ordinances that their city or county has established for asbestos waste disposal.
Demolition/Renovation Operations
Companies and individuals who generate regulated asbestos-containing materials at facilities undergoing a demolition or renovation may be subject to special requirements for labeling, packaging, and waste shipment and disposal records. Please direct questions about solid waste disposal to IDEM’s Office of Land Quality Compliance and Response Branch, which oversees asbestos waste disposal in Indiana.
These guidance materials are available on IDEM’s solid waste Resources page:
- Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment During Asbestos Disposal Operations
- Construction/Demolition Disposal Criteria
- Disposal of Nonfriable Asbestos-Containing Materials
Questions about requirements for asbestos inspections, notifications, and emission control and work practices should be directed to IDEM’s Office of Air Quality. You may also request a free, confidential consultation from IDEM’s Compliance and Technical Assistance Program.
Homeowners
Homeowners who are exempt from the asbestos emission control and work practice rules must still comply with open burning rules that strictly prohibit the burning of asbestos, and solid waste disposal rules that prohibit dumping, causing, or allowing the open dumping of garbage or other solid waste. Homeowners must:
- Never illegally open burn or illegally open dump household trash or waste materials from a home renovation project.
- Ensure that all home project waste and residential trash are properly disposed of at a permitted municipal solid waste landfill. IDEM’s Permitted Solid Waste Facilities List provides locations and contact information for all counties. Homeowners should ask the facility if there are special requirements for waste from home renovations.
Disaster Debris
The handling of asbestos contaminated waste is an important health and environmental issue following a disaster such as a tornado, high winds, hail storm, earthquake, fires, flood, ice storm, or explosion. Activities related to returning to homes and businesses after a natural disaster may pose an increased risk of exposure to asbestos fibers. This is due to fibers being released from asbestos-containing building products during the event, during cleanup activities, and during demolition or renovation of damaged homes and buildings. Guidance to help citizens and local officials manage asbestos debris after a disaster includes:
- Emergency Asbestos Debris fact sheet (available IDEM Fact Sheets page).
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Dealing with Debris and Damaged Buildings website.