Frequently Asked Questions

Harts Waste & Asbestos Removal LTD is a family-run waste management and asbestos removal company based in Essex. We have over 20 years of combined experience working with homeowners, landlords, businesses and contractors across Essex, London and the surrounding areas. Read more about the company or see our customer reviews.

Yes. We are a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency, fully insured for both public liability and asbestos works, and our team is trained to UKATA standards. Licensed asbestos work is carried out with our HSE-licensed partner contractors. All paperwork is provided on request after every job.

We cover the whole of Essex, London and the surrounding counties including Hertfordshire and Kent. Popular service areas include Basildon, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Southend, Chelsea and the wider Greater London region. Visit our Areas We Cover page for the full list.

For most enquiries we respond on the same working day. Asbestos surveys and removals are usually scheduled within 1-5 working days, and rubbish removals can often be completed same-day or next-day depending on availability.

Call us on 01277 546 070, email info@hartswaste.co.uk, or fill in the contact form on any page. Our team is happy to give honest advice over the phone before you book any work.

For non-licensed asbestos work in a domestic property you are not legally required to hold a licence, but you must follow the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. We strongly recommend leaving any asbestos work to trained, insured professionals. Incorrect removal can release fibres that cause serious long-term illness.

Asbestos was widely used in UK buildings constructed or refurbished before the year 2000. Common locations include garage and shed roofs, soffits, floor tiles, Artex ceilings, pipe lagging, water tanks and cement gutters. The only way to know for certain is to have a sample tested in a UKAS-accredited lab through our asbestos testing service.

Asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed and the fibres become airborne. Properly contained, sealed and removed asbestos is safe. Our team uses full PPE, controlled enclosures, HEPA-filtered vacuums and air monitoring where required to keep you, your family and our workers safe.

We follow the HSE’s safe working procedures: assess the material, set up containment if needed, dampen the area to suppress dust, remove the asbestos by hand, double-bag it in approved UN-marked bags, and clean the area with HEPA vacuums. Waste is then transferred to a licensed disposal site with full consignment paperwork.

Yes. Corrugated cement asbestos roofs are one of our most common jobs. As part of our asbestos cement removal service we remove the sheets whole wherever possible, double-wrap them on site and dispose of them at a licensed transfer station. We can also dismantle the rest of the structure and clear the slab if required.

Yes. Pre-2000 Artex often contains chrysotile (white) asbestos. Our Artex asbestos removal service can either safely remove the Artex or, in many cases, overboard the ceiling, whichever is the safer and more cost-effective option for your home.

All asbestos waste is transported in a sealed, dedicated vehicle to an Environment Agency licensed asbestos disposal facility. You will receive a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note as proof of compliant disposal.

An asbestos survey is a structured inspection of a property to identify the presence, type, condition and location of any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The two main types are a Management Survey (for ongoing occupation) and a Refurbishment & Demolition Survey (before any building work).

A Management Survey is for buildings that will continue to be used as normal. It identifies any ACMs that could be disturbed during routine maintenance. A Refurbishment & Demolition Survey is more intrusive and is required before any major works, refurbishment or demolition.

A typical domestic Management Survey takes 1-3 hours on site. Larger commercial properties or full Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys can take a day or more. You will normally receive your written report within 3-5 working days of the visit.

Single-sample asbestos testing typically starts from around £50 + VAT depending on the location and number of samples. We will give you a clear, fixed price before any work is carried out, with no hidden fees.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the dutyholder for any non-domestic building must manage the risk from asbestos, which usually means having an Asbestos Management Survey in place. Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys are also legally required before most building works on pre-2000 properties.

Yes. All samples are analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory and we provide a full written report with photographs, sample locations and recommendations.

Our rubbish removal service covers almost any non-hazardous waste: household rubbish, garden waste, bulky furniture, white goods, garage and loft clearances, builders’ waste, commercial waste and full house clearances. For hazardous materials such as asbestos, we use our separate licensed removal service.

Yes, where availability allows we provide same-day and next-day rubbish removal across Essex and surrounding areas, including Hornchurch, Romford and Upminster. Call us early in the day for the best chance of a same-day slot.

With our wait-and-load service we bring the vehicle, load all the waste for you and take it away in one visit: no permits, no skips blocking your driveway and no time limits. It is normally cheaper and far quicker than hiring a skip for small to medium loads.

Yes. Wherever possible we recycle. We currently divert over 90% of the waste we collect away from landfill by sorting at our transfer station and partnering with licensed recycling facilities.

Absolutely. We carry out full house clearances for landlords, executors and homeowners, including furniture, carpets, white goods, garages and gardens. We can also handle sensitive jobs such as bereavement clearances with discretion.

Pricing depends on the type of asbestos, the volume, access and the location. As a guide, a small garage roof removal typically starts from around £350 + VAT. We always provide a fixed written quote after assessing the job. No hourly rates and no surprises on the day.

Yes. All quotes are free and come with no obligation. For most jobs we can give you a quote over the phone or by email from a few photos. For larger or complex jobs we will arrange a free site visit.

Yes. Every quote includes labour, transport, all PPE/containment, disposal at a licensed facility and the consignment paperwork. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.

We accept bank transfer, debit and credit cards, and cash on completion. For commercial and trade clients we can offer 30-day account terms after the first job.

No. We never charge a call-out fee for quotes within our standard service area.

All of our work is carried out in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and HSE best practice guidance.

Yes. Every job comes with the appropriate paperwork. For asbestos that means a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note. For general rubbish removal it means a Waste Transfer Note. Keep these on file as proof of compliant disposal.

Yes. Our operatives hold UKATA-accredited asbestos awareness and non-licensed work training, and they are issued with full personal protective equipment including respirators, disposable coveralls and gloves on every job.

Where required by the type of work (for example after the removal of higher-risk ACMs in occupied buildings) we arrange for an independent UKAS-accredited analyst to carry out air testing and provide a Certificate of Reoccupation.

Yes. We carry £5 million public liability insurance and dedicated asbestos works cover. Insurance certificates are available on request before booking any work.