Helping American Heroes
Lawyers By State
Select Your State
Back
Asbestos is found in homes and buildings due to its widespread use in the 20th century, and when asbestos fibers are disturbed, the mineral can become deadly. Asbestos recycling can convert the material into a harmless glass. Keep in mind, this type of asbestos removal and repurposing should be left to professionals.
Asbestos recycling occurs when the material is transformed into completely safe silicate glass at very high temperatures. The glass can then be used to make ceramics and stoneware.
That said, asbestos recycling and asbestos removal and disposal should never be attempted without an asbestos professional. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer, as well as other diseases, such as lung cancer or asbestosis.
If you have an older home or office building and suspect it contains asbestos, do not try to remove asbestos-containing waste yourself. Contact your local hazardous waste center to find an asbestos recycling center or asbestos recycling plant near you.
There are six different types of asbestos: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite.
Each of these types of asbestos was used as building materials for decades before it was known to cause deadly diseases like mesothelioma.
Because asbestos is so dangerous to handle due to the risk of exposure, asbestos recycling is a risky process. Asbestos can’t be dumped at general waste disposal sites like other types of waste.
Instead, asbestos must be made into solid waste first in order to be recycled.
All types of asbestos can be recycled when using the correct recycling process. However, all forms of asbestos and any amount of asbestos — no matter how small — may pose health concerns. This danger is why it’s so important to properly recycle asbestos products.
Asbestos-containing materials can either be friable or non-friable. Friable asbestos is more dangerous.
Learn about the differences between the two:
Asbestos removal and disposal should be undertaken in any building where people may come into contact with asbestos products, particularly friable ones. Still, asbestos disposal and recycling should never be undertaken by anyone without the proper training and equipment.
If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos-containing products, we can help. Get our Free Veterans Packet to explore financial compensation, treatments, and military benefits that could be available to you.
Benefits of asbestos recycling include:
A professional can tell you more about the benefits and downsides of recycling asbestos.
The process for recycling asbestos waste is an alternative to the “wrap and bury” method used for traditional asbestos abatement.
The steps professionals use to recycle asbestos include:
Asbestos was used widely from the 1930s to the early 1980s to make thousands of products, such as insulation, roofing and floor tiles, brake pads, and much more.
Because it was cheap, versatile, and resistant to fire, asbestos was commonly used in the military, especially on U.S. Navy ships. It was also used in countless industries and in homes.
As asbestos-containing products are used or damaged, asbestos fibers are released into the air. Inhaling or swallowing these fibers can be deadly, especially later in life.
Also, a product does not have to be made completely of asbestos to qualify. Asbestos-containing materials are those that contain more than 1% asbestos.
Asbestos was used so commonly that millions of people were exposed to the deadly material. Asbestos materials that aren't properly recycled or disposed of could still pose a threat.
Call (877) 450-8973 if you or a loved one developed mesothelioma from asbestos-containing products. We can help you pursue justice, treatments, and compensation, if eligible.
Due to its heat resistance, asbestos was used in auto parts that involve constant friction. It is still used in many of these car parts today.
Asbestos could be found in these vehicle products:
Every U.S. Navy ship built before the 1980s contained asbestos to reduce the risk of fires. Neither the U.S. military nor the general public knew asbestos was dangerous, as asbestos product manufacturers hid the deadly truth for decades.
Asbestos was considered perfect for insulation in steam pipes and fuel lines. Since asbestos is non-conductive, it was used to coat miles of electrical cables.
Non-military ships made before the 1980s also contained many asbestos-based products.
Today, Navy ships are no longer made with asbestos-containing products.
Before regulations on asbestos, it was commonly used in the construction of buildings and homes as insulation. This not only means that carpenters and construction workers may have been exposed to asbestos, but also that many homes contain asbestos materials.
Besides insulation, asbestos was used in:
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and even a single fiber can cause mesothelioma or other illnesses decades later. Those living or working in older buildings should get them tested for asbestos.
Testing for asbestos in your home can help reduce the chances of exposure.
You may want to get your property tested for asbestos if:
Once you know whether the toxic mineral is in your home, removal and possibly even asbestos recycling may be required. Please note, however, asbestos testing and abatement must be performed by a professional.
Here are a few other things to remember if you believe your home may contain asbestos.
Don’t go into any part of your home that contains damaged asbestos-based products. If you aren’t sure if asbestos is present, leave the area alone and treat it as though it is.
At-home testing kits allow you to take a sample and send it to a lab to test for asbestos. That said, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends using accredited professionals to test for asbestos.
The main reason for not using at-home kits is that most untrained people are unable to tell if something may contain asbestos.
A trained professional, however, knows how to test areas without disturbing the asbestos fibers, which could worsen contamination.
While it is legal to remove asbestos waste materials from your home in some states, you may put yourself at risk of exposure without proper training. It is best to not attempt removal or asbestos recycling under any circumstances.
If asbestos recycling or removal is required for your home, there are generally two types of asbestos professionals you may need.
Once you know whether the toxic mineral is in your home, removal and possibly even asbestos recycling may be required.
Is it OK to touch asbestos? No, it's not recommended due to the dangers. Asbestos testing and abatement MUST be performed by a professional.
While working with a professional to decide what to do with asbestos, there are several things to consider.
Some tips to keep in mind include:
All of these steps can ensure that the abatement job will be properly done and won't accidentally expose you or anyone else to asbestos.
Asbestos-containing products are typically abated or recycled.
Asbestos abatement is the sealing and removal of asbestos-based products. It is currently much more common than asbestos recycling.
Recycling asbestos costs three times as much as standard abatment. Contractors also need additional approval from the EPA to pursue asbestos recycling, making the process more complex.
As the dangers of asbestos-containing products became widely known, the U.S. government began passing laws to ensure the mineral would be properly removed and disposed of.
Some laws dictating asbestos use and removal include:
Although asbestos laws and regulations are common, they are still widely debated.
Despite a ban on all new uses of asbestos by the EPA in March 2024, thousands of older buildings and other structures throughout the country still use asbestos.
In these cases, the buildings were built before asbestos was banned, and the products in question weren't removed.
The main point to remember about asbestos recycling or removal is never attempting it yourself. The material is deadly, and there is no safe level of exposure.
Some other important points to remember include:
Get a Free Veterans Packet for help if you or someone you love developed mesothelioma following asbestos exposure. You may qualify for treatments, compensation, and military benefits if you served.