Does asbestos waste need a manifest in Alberta?

Asbestos waste in Alberta does not need a manifest. The province exempts it from the hazardous waste regulation when it is managed under Alberta's asbestos disposal guidelines, so no manifest is required.

That said, the exemption does not mean the material moves without paperwork. Asbestos waste is regulated as a dangerous good for transport (Alberta's bulletin points to the provincial Dangerous Goods Transportation and Handling Act), so a shipping document showing the UN number is still required. For chrysotile, that number is UN 2590. The load can only go to a landfill approved to accept asbestos. In Calgary, that is Shepard landfill only, and you need both an Industrial Waste Permit and a booked appointment before you arrive. The permit has no fee and is valid up to one year. Appointments must be requested by 10 a.m. the day before. The City's current rate is $220 per tonne, with a $275 per load hard-to-handle surcharge if packaging is damaged or open.

Packaging matters at Shepard. The City of Calgary requires material to be wetted before bagging, then double-bagged in 6-mil polyethylene, double-wrapped and sealed with duct tape or similar. Loads with rips, tears or openings can be turned away or hit with the surcharge. The OHS Code separately requires that asbestos waste be stored, transported and disposed of in sealed, impervious, labelled containers. Both rules apply at the same time.

A few other things to keep straight:

• Never call asbestos waste "hazardous waste" in Alberta: the provincial exemption means that label does not apply when the disposal guidelines are followed.
• The 72-hour notification to Alberta OHS is a separate obligation from disposal. The contractor files it online before work begins, not at the landfill.
• The Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual describes the clearance air standard after abatement: results below 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre for moderate-risk work, with aggressive sampling if a containment was used.

One thing to settle with any contractor up front: will they show you the 72-hour OHS notification they plan to file, the worker cards for everyone entering the restricted area, and who will run the clearance air test?