Asbestos Removal prices in Canberra
We do not publish a price band. No government source read for this site sets what asbestos removal, testing or disposal costs, and a figure from a sales page would be the seller's number, not yours. What we can show are the parts of a job the ACT's rules attach cost or process to, and the fees the ACT Government sets for disposal.
Call (02) 5114 6762Asbestos removal costs and rules check
Every rule below is WorkSafe ACT's, the ACT Legislation Register's or the ACT Government's own line for removing, testing or disposing of asbestos in Canberra and the ACT, each with the page it comes from and the date it was read. In the ACT every removal job is licensed work, whatever the amount: there is no do-it-yourself allowance for a small area the way there is in New South Wales.
Answer three questions to see which rules apply
Pick what you know. The rules in the table below that apply to your answers are highlighted, and the main ones are listed here as the table states them, each with its source link and read date. The ACT has no small-area exception for removal, so nothing here turns on 10 m²; the amount asked about is the weight of the waste, where ACT City Services sets its disposal fees. This box adds no rule of its own and no price. If you are not sure of an answer, the rules for every possible answer stay highlighted.
| Rule | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In the ACT all asbestos removal, from homes and workplaces alike, must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist. There is no area under which you may remove it yourself: the ACT removed the national allowance for up to 10 m2 of non-friable asbestos. The only exception is removal incidental to minor or routine maintenance work, or other minor work.About asbestos removal | any amount of asbestos, bonded or friable | WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos · read |
| At a home that is not a workplace, removing asbestos without the right licence is a strict liability offence, with a maximum penalty of 30 penalty units. A penalty unit is A$160 for an individual.About asbestos removal | a homeowner removing asbestos themselves | ACT Legislation Register, Dangerous Substances General Regulation 2004, ss 311 to 313 · read ACT Legislation Register, Legislation Act 2001, s 133 · read |
| The minor-work exception is narrow. WorkSafe ACT's examples are sealing or painting non-friable asbestos to keep it in condition, clearing leaves from the gutters of an asbestos cement roof, and removing small, isolated pieces found at a property. Disturbing loose-fill (Mr Fluffy) insulation, cleaning asbestos with high-pressure air or water, and any maintenance on friable asbestos are not minor work.About asbestos removal | deciding whether a job is minor work | WorkSafe ACT, Minor routine maintenance and other minor work · read |
| Friable asbestos, material that can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry, can be removed only by a Class A licence holder.About friable asbestos removal | any friable asbestos | WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos licensing · read WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos · read ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| Non-friable (bonded) asbestos, such as asbestos cement sheeting (fibro) and vinyl floor tiles, can be removed by a Class B or a Class A licence holder. A Class B holder may remove only non-friable asbestos.About non-friable asbestos removal | non-friable (bonded) asbestos | WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos licensing · read WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos · read ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| In the ACT only a licensed asbestos assessor may identify asbestos, take samples, assess the risk, monitor the air, carry out clearance inspections and issue clearance certificates. The ACT assessor licence covers more than in other states and territories.About asbestos assessment and testing | testing, inspection and clearance | WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos licensing · read ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read Access Canberra, Asbestos assessor and removal licensing · read |
| The licensed removalist must give WorkSafe ACT written notice at least 5 days before removal starts. If asbestos must be removed immediately, the removalist telephones WorkSafe ACT and submits the form within 24 hours.About asbestos removal | every licensed removal job | WorkSafe ACT, Asbestos removal notice · read ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| At a home, the removalist must, so far as is reasonably practicable, tell the person who commissioned the work, the occupier, the owner and anyone occupying premises in the immediate vicinity that asbestos removal is to be carried out, and when it starts.About asbestos removal | removal at a home | ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| At a home that is not a workplace, the licensed removalist must prepare an asbestos removal control plan for the job and give a copy to the person who commissioned the work.About asbestos removal | removal at a home | ACT Legislation Register, Dangerous Substances General Regulation 2004, ss 311 to 313 · read |
| When licensed removal at a home is finished, the removalist must have an independent licensed asbestos assessor carry out a clearance inspection, and the assessor must issue a clearance certificate before the area is re-occupied. Where the assessor monitors the air as part of the inspection, it must show asbestos below 0.01 fibres/mL.About asbestos assessment and testing | removal at a home | ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| For friable (Class A) removal at a home, the removalist must have an independent licensed asbestos assessor monitor the air immediately before and during the work.About friable asbestos removal | friable asbestos removal at a home | ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read |
| A business that is to renovate or demolish a home must first identify the asbestos the work is likely to disturb and, so far as is reasonably practicable, have it removed before the work starts. WorkSafe ACT says this is not the homeowner's responsibility.About asbestos before renovating or selling | renovation or demolition by a business | ACT Legislation Register, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Chapter 8 · read WorkSafe ACT, It is the responsibility of PCBUs to identify and remove asbestos before starting residential renovations · read |
| An application for building approval must include an asbestos removal control plan if the building is a class 1, 2, 3 or 4 building, or an associated class 10 building, erected before 1985, and a copy of any asbestos assessment report for the premises. Certifiers are told not to issue approval without the plan.About asbestos before renovating or selling | building approval for a building erected before 1985 | ACT Legislation Register, Building Act 2004, s 26 · read Access Canberra, Certifier note 1301: asbestos removal control plan for demolition, alterations and additions · read |
| If there is an asbestos assessment report for a home, whoever engages someone to do work involving asbestos there must tell them about the asbestos and give them a copy of the report.About asbestos assessment and testing | a home with an asbestos assessment report | ACT Legislation Register, Dangerous Substances Act 2004, Chapter 3A · read |
| A contract for the sale of a home must include each current asbestos assessment report, or, where there is none or the seller cannot get it, an asbestos advice. The current advice applies to homes built in or before 1990.About asbestos before renovating or selling | selling a home | ACT Legislation Register, Civil Law Sale of Residential Property Act 2003, s 9 · read WorkSafe ACT, New ACT Asbestos Advice Notice for use from 1 July 2023 · read |
| Before a tenancy agreement, the lessor must give the tenant the asbestos assessment report for the premises, or, where there is none or it cannot be obtained, an asbestos advice.About asbestos before renovating or selling | renting out a home | ACT Legislation Register, Residential Tenancies Act 1997, s 12 · read |
| At a home affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation (Mr Fluffy), anyone doing or commissioning work that may disturb asbestos contamination in the roof space, wall cavity or sub-floor must tell WorkSafe ACT at least 5 business days before it starts, and whoever engages a worker there must tell them about the asbestos and give them the current asbestos contamination report. Development and building work on these properties is limited to essential work for health, safety or reasonable living conditions, or demolition.About loose-fill asbestos removal | a loose-fill (Mr Fluffy) affected home | ACT Legislation Register, Dangerous Substances Act 2004, Chapter 3A · read ACT Government, Loose Fill Asbestos Coordination: Homeowner and occupier responsibilities · read |
| Removing loose-fill asbestos from a property needs a Class A licensed removalist. Demolition of a structure that contains or has contained loose-fill insulation must be notified to WorkSafe ACT at least 5 business days before it begins; there is no fee for the notice.About loose-fill asbestos removal | demolition of a loose-fill affected home | ACT Government, Loose Fill Asbestos Coordination: Private demolition and sales · read WorkSafe ACT, Do we need to notify WorkSafe ACT about demolition work? · read |
| A homeowner selling a loose-fill affected property must disclose to any prospective buyer that it is on the Register and contains loose-fill insulation. An occupancy prohibition stops the property being occupied after a transfer of ownership, except by an approved occupant.About loose-fill asbestos removal | selling a loose-fill affected home | ACT Government, Loose Fill Asbestos Coordination: Private demolition and sales · read |
| Since 1 July 2026 a household can dispose of up to 60 kg of asbestos free of charge at the Mitchell or Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre with no booking, down from 250 kg. Each package must be no larger than 600 mm x 600 mm x 200 mm and no heavier than 20 kg, with at most 3 packages, double-wrapped and sealed in plastic at least 200 microns thick, and identified at the weighbridge. Asbestos never goes in a recycling, garden or general waste bin.ACT landfill fees are reviewed each 1 July: re-read in July 2027About asbestos disposal | household asbestos up to 60 kg | ACT City Services, Recyclopaedia: Asbestos · read |
| Household loads of 60 to 250 kg must be booked and go to Mugga Lane only, and disposal fees apply. The ACT fee for asbestos in a load of less than 250 kg is A$59.55 a load from 1 July 2026, GST inclusive.ACT landfill fees are reviewed each 1 July: re-read in July 2027About asbestos disposal | household loads of 60 to 250 kg | ACT City Services, Recyclopaedia: Asbestos · read ACT City Services, Fees and charges, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Fees Part 4 · read |
| Asbestos loads of 250 kg or more, or in a package larger than 80 cm x 80 cm, are charged A$236.80 a tonne from 1 July 2026, GST inclusive. Commercial loads go to Mugga Lane only, by appointment, with a disposal form lodged 2 days before delivery; the disposal yard is open 7:30 am to 12:30 pm on weekdays.ACT landfill fees are reviewed each 1 July: re-read in July 2027About asbestos disposal | 250 kg or more, and commercial loads | ACT City Services, Fees and charges, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Fees Part 4 · read ACT City Services, Recyclopaedia: Asbestos · read |
This lists each source's own lines as read; it is not legal advice, and it sets no price. Disposal fees are the ACT Government's own and are GST inclusive.
What changes a job
Friable or non-friable comes first: friable material needs a Class A licence and independent air monitoring before and during the work, while non-friable needs a Class B licence. Loose-fill (Mr Fluffy) is second: an affected property needs a Class A removalist, five business days' notice, and work is otherwise limited to essential repairs or demolition. Building approval is third: a building erected before 1985 that needs approval must be accompanied by a control plan. Notice, a control plan and an independent clearance inspection before re-occupation apply to every job, whatever it is worth.
Fees a government body sets
ACT disposal fees from 1 July 2026: free to 60 kg; A$59.55 a load from 60 to 250 kg; A$236.80 a tonne at 250 kg or more, all GST inclusive. They are reviewed on 1 July each year, so this page is due for re-reading in July 2027. No government source read for this site sets a price for removal, testing or assessment, so ask the provider for a written quote and what it assumes.
Costs and fees by service
- Asbestos Removal
- Non-Friable (Bonded) Asbestos Removal
- Friable Asbestos Removal
- Asbestos Assessment and Testing
- Loose-Fill (Mr Fluffy) Asbestos Removal
- Asbestos Disposal in the ACT
- Renovating, Demolishing or Selling with Asbestos
No price is shown for any service on this site, and this site sets none. The dollar figures on this page are the ACT Government's disposal fees. They are not a price for your job.
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Last reviewed · Updated · First published