Does the disposal site need notice before asbestos arrives in Ontario?

Yes, and the rule goes further than notice alone. Under Ontario Regulation 347, section 17(1)1, no person may cause or permit asbestos waste to leave the location where it was generated unless it is being transported to a waste disposal site whose operator has agreed to accept it and has been advised of its anticipated time of arrival. That means the receiving site has to be arranged and its acceptance confirmed before the waste moves, not after.

The sequence matters in practice. The disposal site must be identified, contacted and confirmed before the load leaves the work site. We found no exemption in Regulation 347 for small loads or owner-occupier jobs. Asbestos waste is not classified as hazardous waste under Regulation 347; it is managed under section 17, which applies to everyone.

The regulation also sets out how the load must be handled. The waste must travel in a rigid, impermeable, sealed container of sufficient strength. Where the container is a cardboard box, the waste must be sealed inside a six-mil polyethylene bag placed inside the box. The label must show the word CAUTION in letters at least ten centimetres high, along with the phrases CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBRES, Avoid Creating Dust and Spillage, Asbestos May be Harmful To Your Health, and Wear Approved Protective Equipment. Transport must be by a driver trained in the management of asbestos waste, not mixed with other cargo, not in a compaction vehicle, and boxes must travel in an enclosed vehicle with spill equipment on board.

If you ask a contractor which disposal site they plan to use, a straightforward answer tells you they have already done this step. Vague answers, or a plan to sort it out later, are a reason to pause. We found nothing about asbestos on the City of Ottawa's Trail Waste Facility pages, so ask the contractor to name the receiving site in writing.

A fair written quote for asbestos work should name the disposal site, confirm that the operator has agreed to accept the load, and describe the packaging and transport method. It should also state the Type of work under O. Reg. 278/05, whether a Ministry of Labour inspector notice is required before work starts (which it is for Type 3), and whether a clearance air test is included. You can request a match with local abatement contractors through the form on this page.

With two written quotes, line up the Type each contractor has named for the job, because the Type decides the legal requirements, including the inspector notice for Type 3 work.