Asbestos Disposal Point Grants – Information bulletin

Questions added on the 12/09/2024

If we use a 10 m3 lidded, lockable asbestos skip bin in the Asbestos Disposal Point area, do we also need to install a fence around the bin? If yes, can it be a lockable, temporary fencing?

The Asbestos Disposal Point area must be secured by fencing. Lockable, temporary fencing can be used.

Can there be a reduction in the 5-meter fence radius around the asbestos bin?

There does not need to be a full 5-meter radius of fencing circling around the asbestos skip bin in the Asbestos Disposal Point (ADP) area.

The bin may be located adjacent/against a pre-existing fence or wall (noting that if against a wall, it must not be in the direct vicinity of any air vents, windows or ventilation intake systems).

The skip bin should be approximately 5-meter from other wastes or trafficked areas. However, if a 5-meter buffer cannot be achieved, additional site-specific procedures and controls could be developed to manage any potential operational risks. For example:

• Increasing the frequency of the ADP area inspections.

• Establish times in which the ADP may be used by customers. This may avoid interactions between the ADP and broader operations.

• Reduce operations in adjacent areas when the skip bin is being collected for disposal off-site.

Note that:

• The ADP area should include adequate space/access to allow customers to park close by to the skip bin to unload waste and for larger vehicles to remove the bin.

• If the ADP operator chooses to manage incorrectly packaged loads on site, the ADP area should also include space for quarantining and then repackaging the waste (see Section 8.7 of the Guide).

A smaller skip bin could potentially be utilised, but it would need to be big enough to contain full length asbestos cement sheets. However, if using a smaller bin, reduced waste transport efficiencies and associated costs would need to be taken into consideration

Questions added on 05/09/2024

Will grant recipients need to engage with community located near their waste facility?

Grant recipients will need to engage with community located near their facility as part of the site establishment process. SV can assist with the community engagement process.

SV has developed a Communication Package which includes templates for grant recipients to adapt as relevant to their Asbestos Disposal Point. This includes resources to assist with community engagement. See Section 10 ‘resources’ of the Grant Guidelines for some samples of materials developed to support community engagement.

During the grant application process, you will be asked to confirm that you will engage as needed with community located near the facility as part of the establishment process. There may be exceptional circumstances where community engagement is not required. This would be considered on a case-by-case basis as part of the grant assessment process.

If we establish an Asbestos Disposal Point but close it down as it proves not to be commercially viable for our organisation, do we have to pay back the grant? Does the site need to be running for a certain time period?

Grant recipients will not be required to return funding if they decide that their Asbestos Disposal Point is not commercially viable and close the service.

However, as part of the contracting process, SV will require grant recipients to commit to providing the service for a minimum of 12 months to allow time to:

• establish a customer base

• understand demand and seasonal trends

• monitor costs associated with the asbestos disposal point

• implement appropriate charges to assess commercial viability

Can you provide an indication of recommended rates / customer disposal fees for non-friable asbestos? Is there an industry standard?

The ongoing operating costs, waste transport and landfill gate fees will vary from site to site depending on the location of the asbestos disposal point and the organisation managing the site. The resulting disposal fee is a commercial decision.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) provides an Asbestos waste facilities search tool (see www.asbestossafety.gov.au/who-contact/search-disposal-facilities). This site lists various waste facilities in Victoria and across Australia that accept asbestos from commercial and/or domestic customers and provides details including asbestos disposal fees where the information is publicly available. The facilities listed may:

• be owned/ operated by local government or industry.

• accept asbestos loads directly to landfill or enable temporary storage of small quantities of asbestos prior to disposal at an appropriately licensed landfill.

Note that the information on ASEA’s website was last updated in 2023. For more recent information on disposal rates SV recommends checking the waste facilities website or calling relevant organisations direct.

Questions added on 03/09/2024

Is my transfer station, resource recovery centre or landfill in an area eligible for funding?

To be eligible, applicants must have a project located in an area where there is no access to an asbestos disposal option for small quantities of asbestos, for domestic and commercial customers, within a specified drive time (see Table 1 on the Grants page).

For example, a landfill may accept commercial quantities of asbestos from licensed asbestos removalists but are unable to provide access to their site to householders or trades wanting to dispose of small amounts of asbestos.

If you are unsure if your project location is eligible, please contact SV’s Asbestos Disposal Point Advisory Service.

How do I know if my waste facility is a suitable site and has enough space for an Asbestos Disposal Point?

The Guide to Developing and Managing an Asbestos Disposal Point for the Temporary Storage of Non-Friable Asbestos Waste (the guide) includes information on what you need to consider when establishing an ADP. This includes permit requirements and siting, design and layout considerations. For further information go to the following sections of the guide: 

• Section 3: Establishing an Asbestos Disposal Point  
• Section 4: Siting, Design and Layout Considerations  
• Appendix A: Site Evaluation Checklist (this was developed for organisations to check multiple waste facility options or suitable ADP locations on the one site)
• Appendix C: Siting Example Figures 

My organisation runs multiple waste facilities in locations across Melbourne and Victoria that could be suitable for an Asbestos Disposal Point. Can I submit grant applications for more than one waste facility?

Yes. Organisations can apply for funding for more than one facility however each waste facility proposed must be located in an eligible area as detailed in the Grant Guidelines and meet all other eligibility requirements.

You must submit a separate grant application for each project location / waste facility proposed as permit, siting, infrastructure and system requirements and costs will likely vary from site to site.

The ADP Grants program is a competitive merit-based application process. The assessment panel will assess each application according to the criteria detailed in Section 3.1 of the Grant Guidelines.

What permits will I need to establish and operate an Asbestos Disposal Point?

Section 3.2 of the guide provides information about EPA Victoria permissions and Council permits required to temporarily store non-friable packaged asbestos waste. The requirements are different for transfer stations, resource recovery centres and landfills.

SV recommends that if you aren’t sure what permits you need:

• review the guide
• contact the ADP Grants Advisory Service for an initial discussion
• submit an EPA Pathways advice request by logging into the EPA portal and select the Pathways advice option. Allow time for EPA to respond.

Does SV require that a Grant Applicant has an amended or new EPA permission allowing the temporary storage of asbestos at their waste facility prior to submitting an application?

No. You do not need an amended or new EPA permission prior to submitting an application. If your project is successful, the permission must be sought as part of the initial project work.

In the application form, you will be asked if your site currently has an EPA permission and planning permit (as relevant to the facility) to temporarily store and consolidate non-friable, packaged asbestos waste. If you don’t, you will then need to confirm that you will seek the permission as part of the project and outline the key steps and approximate timing required to secure the permission.

Are insurance policies available that will cover this type of asbestos activity?

Public liability policies may exclude asbestos related activity. Policies are available such as Environmental Impairment Liability that cover asbestos related activity at your facility.

In the grant application process, you will be asked to confirm that the waste facility has appropriate insurance coverage for asbestos related activity at your facility or confirm that you will obtain the required insurance as part of the initial project work.

In relation to Section 2.3 of the grant guidelines and potential funding for staff costs, can we create a role that is not currently existing but would be dedicated solely to establishing the Asbestos Disposal Point?

Yes. Section 2:3 states that SV will fund ‘Staff costs (such as salaries) for existing staff contributing to the project only e.g. project management’. An existing staff member can work on the project (continuation or expansion of their role). You can also create a new role for the duration of the project.

In both instances, you will need to demonstrate the staff time spent on the project and the cost. SV will only fund costs directly related to the project.

Why does the guide currently say 'Pilot Program'? Is the guide going to be updated?

The version of the guide available for download was developed for the ADP Pilot Program and has been made available for potential applicants for review purposes only. The guide is currently undergoing a review informed by the Pilot program. An updated version will be made available to grant recipients.

SV notes that the pilot program has found that the guide is comprehensive and supports site establishment and day-to-day operations. SV expects that there will be minor amendments and improvements to the guide and the core infrastructure, systems and standard operating procedures will remain the same.

One activity under further consideration relates to the current requirement in the guide to line the skip bin with builders’ plastic prior to receiving packaged asbestos into the bin. This activity may be removed from the standard operating procedures.

Are SV looking to have a uniform pricing structure / disposal fee for customers across all Asbestos Disposal Points or is it up to each site to determine and implement?

SV does not require a uniform pricing structure / customer disposal fee across all Asbestos Disposal Points. The ongoing operating costs, waste transport and landfill gate fees will vary from site to site depending on the location of the asbestos disposal point and the organisation managing the site. The resulting disposal fee is a commercial decision. SV also notes that you are not required to provide an estimated asbestos disposal fee for customers as part of the grant application process.

Can you provide a method of determining the charge for service/asbestos disposal fee for customers using the Asbestos Disposal Point?

SV has provided an indicative list of items that may be included when considering the asbestos disposal fee for customers when the site is operational. These items are detailed throughout the Guide but are listed below for reference, SV notes:

• you are not required to provide an estimated asbestos disposal fee for customers as part of the grant application process.
• ongoing operating costs, waste transport and landfill gate fees will vary depending on the location of the Asbestos Disposal Point (ADP) and the organisation managing the site.

The list is an indicative guide only and not exhaustive. SV recommends that grant applicants review the Guide and consider ongoing management procedures and requirements in relation to your organisations existing operations, staffing structure, site location and commercial requirements.

General items that could be considered when developing the customer disposal fee, include, but are not limited to:

• Infrastructure, equipment and systems needed for ongoing operations
  • 10 m3 bin hire (if not purchasing bin outright)
  • Disposable personal protective equipment (for incident management only)

• Staffing costs – per ADP customer
  • Customer service staff – managing queries
  • Gate house – inspecting loads and identifying acceptable /unacceptable packaging*
  • Gate house / onsite – monitoring customer when using the ADP (via CCTV or direct)

• Staffing costs – ongoing ADP management
  • Operations – lining of skip bin with plastic (prior to first receiving waste into the bin)
  • Operations – daily ADP management (e.g. securing fencing and tarping bin when not in use)
  • Operations – regular inspections of skip bin and ADP area (i.e. checking bin and previous deposited packaging, monitoring storage levels)
  • Operations – booking bin collection, overseeing pick-up, using EPA’s waste tracker

• Transport and disposal of asbestos
  • Transport of skip bin by EPA permissioned waste transporter to licensed landfill
  • Landfill gate fees – cost per tonne of disposing of non-friable, packaged asbestos

• Site operating costs – ongoing
  • Insurance with asbestos coverage
  • Overheads

*This list does not include staff time or consumables (e.g. asbestos bags) for dealing with an incorrectly packaged load. The approach used for managing incorrectly packaged loads will be determined by each organisation who may choose to charge a customer an additional fee for repackaging.

Can you provide a breakdown of site establishment costs based on the Pilot program?

SV cannot provide site establishment costs for the pilot program. The Guide provides comprehensive information of the infrastructure, equipment and systems needed to establish a site. SV recommends that grant applicants review the Guide and budget for what is needed for your waste facility and organisation to meet the requirements of the Guide.

My organisation already provides an asbestos disposal service for small quantities. Will the grants support an upgrade or fund additional activities such as promotion or training?

No. The grants program will not fund upgrades to existing asbestos disposal services or additional activities. The key objective of the grants is to support the establishment of Asbestos Disposal Points where there is currently no access to a disposal option for small quantities of asbestos.