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The City of Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are introducing new testing and disposal requirements for any waste materials that may contain asbestos.

The changes are coming into place to protect landfill workers and the public from the risk of asbestos exposure at landfills and waste transfer sites, according to a news release issued today, Feb. 20.

According to the media release, the new rules are in response to WorkSafeBC requirements.

The City and the Regional District are recommending anyone looking to work on a building constructed before 1990 to have a qualified professional conduct hazard assessment and test for asbestos.

Any waste from a pre-1990 building that contains Potential Asbestos Containing Material will now be assumed to contain asbestos if it has not been tested, the release says. This means it will only be accepted at select landfills and eco-depots and it must be double-bagged in six-mil thick bags and sealed shut prior to arriving at the disposal location.

“We are asking everyone to find out the disposal restriction that will apply to their specific construction or renovation project before you begin work, especially before you load up your truck for a dump run,” Glenn Farrow with the City says in a release.

Any waste load with the following materials will be subject to the new requirements:

• gypsum wall board and mud compound
• plaster and plaster board
• vinyl flooring and levelling compound
• ceiling tiles
• cement pipes
• stucco and cement siding
• spray applied insulation and attic insulation

“Due to these new safety requirements, you may be turned away if your load hadn’t been properly bagged or is missing required documentation,” Jamie Vieria, Manager of Environmental Services at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says in the release.

Within city limits, potential asbestos containing materials will be accepted at Missions Flats Landfill only.

Any loads arriving at the Barnhartvale Landfill or the Kamloops Resource Recovery Centre will be redirected to Missions Flats.

For more information, go here.

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