By definition, asbestos is a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as brake linings. In english, it is an insulator with great fire protection properties that is resistant to chemical erosion. What are the risks? Asbestos isn’t hazardous until it is disturbed, often from renovations or demolitions. Breathing exposed asbestos fibres can cause cancer and other diseases including, asbestois, mesthelima and lung cancer. Does my home contain asbestos? If your house was built between 1950 – 1990, it is likely that there is some form of asbestos. It is often hard to tell because asbestos was mixed with with many other materials. Before doing any renovations you must have your drywall tested for asbestos. HERE is a link to asbestos testing facilities. Common uses for asbestos: Insulation Linoleum Floor tiles Drywall Cement board and tiles Textured decorative coatings Cement pipers Please click on the following link to see which materials may be asbestos containing: Asbestos Hazards for Homeowners What do I do if my home contains asbestos? If your home contains asbestos and you’re looking to do renovation, call us, we specialize in Asbestos Abatement and can safely remove and dispose of all contaminated materials. Find more information on how we can help HERE .

With the real estate market rebounding, we have seen a lot of people moving into their new homes and investing in renovations. Some of the renovations might come with a little surprise, especially if the homes are 1990 or older. There is a high chance that some of the materials in your home might contain asbestos . If you decide to do any upgrades to your home, approach the renovation with caution and please take into consideration the following:

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the word asbestos a few times in your life. Especially if you live in Canada, in which you’ve most likely heard it A LOT. You also probably know that it’s a harmful substance found in a lot of building materials, but why was it used so extensively and what is it exactly? Asbestos Busters has all of your questions answered. Let’s start with some history. Asbestos has been used for thousands of years dating back to the ancient Egyptian era about 4000 B.C when it was used to make cloth and paper, often used to mummify the rich after death. It’s been used in tons of materials since then, but it wasn’t until the late 1800’s that mining asbestos started to boom. And by 1970 it was used in 95% of homes in Canada. Not only was it in almost every home, but it was also in most parts of homes as well. 

It often feels as if waste management is a grey area for people. There’s almost a sort of controversy around what can be recycled and what can’t, about what’s truly best for the environment and if all the small things we’re doing are even making a difference. Will the elimination of single use plastics really solve this global plastic pandemic?

While it may seem like most companies have always had their office space, it’s been a long time in the making for us. We moved into our warehouse three years ago and we’ve been working on getting an office built ever since. The day has finally come and after lengthy delays we are very happy to say that we have moved in.

For Ethical Waste Services (now known as Asbestos Busters) a successful 2021 depends on three things. Company growth, donations, and ensuring everyone stays safe and employed amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a business looking to grow and expand our furthest horizons we’re always reflecting. Asking ourselves; what did we do last year that we’re proud of and what can we improve? Where was most of our time spent? Where do we want to spend our time in the future and does that bring us closer to our ultimate goal?

Hello everyone, my name’s Terra and I’m the Team Lead of the Drywall Removal division at Ethical Waste Services. Raven, our office admin (who normally writes all of these blogs) asked me some great questions about myself. She asked me who my biggest influences are, my goals for the next year, some of my favorite pieces of advice and finally what keeps me motivated during my most pressing times. I’d say someone I really look up to is Annie Clark or more commonly known as St. Vincent. I just wish I could harvest her creative and wild antics. She’s an insane guitar player and her albums are so different from each other. Which is something I don’t think people realize is extremely hard to do. Creativity is a powerful thing and I’d love to channel hers! Something I really want to do in the next year, that I’ve never done before is tour the States with my band. We had everything booked for last May and then the world got shut down with the emergence of Covid-19. I haven’t traveled that much so seeing the States in its entirety would be really exciting for me. Something that’s always stuck with me, and I think actually really helps me when I’m dealing with things that stress me out, whether it’s a big financial decision I have to make or even something to do with school is that I always try to hope for the best, but expect the worst. Honestly, when things get really rough and I’m going through a hard day I just try my best to laugh things off. I’d like to think that I’m very good at turning a situation or even how I feel about somebody being rude to just a ridiculous thing that I can laugh about in my head. So I’d definitely say that humor really gets me through a lot. A laugh can go a long way! I hope this helps you get to know me a little better and if you ever run into me on a job site, definitely give me a shout and we can talk about Annie Clark’s insane guitar skills! .

For some of you reading this, it mat not be news ,but for those of you who don’t know how Ethical Waste Services (now known as Asbestos Busters) became the company that it is today we’d like to share our story. The Story of Ethical Waste Services Ltd (now known as Asbestos Busters) starts with the tale of one man – Paul MacDonald. Paul is the creator, owner, and operations manager of Ethical Waste Services. His story began when he was a youth feeling like an outcast among his peers. Without the proper guidance Paul eventually turned to drugs and alcohol abuse to numb his pain. Then his first child was born and Paul began to learn to care for himself by caring for his daughter. He started to understand that he could make a difference for the youth that sit in the same boat he once did. So, he set out to be a teacher. He thought he could provide kids with the guidance and mentorship they deserve while also teaching them a thing or two. In 2014 Paul graduated with a math & PE degree from SFU. Then the massive teacher strike hit and Paul realized that becoming a teacher would be seemingly difficult. With his drive to make a difference in the lives of youth, the strike didn’t stop him. Instead, Paul would put all of his time and focus into his drywall removal and asbestos abatement company – Ethical Waste Services Ltd. He decided he would donate 50% of his yearly profits to youth outreach services and on top of that he’d help youth through his business by hiring them, being their mentor and giving them the chances they deserve. Ethical Waste Services Ltd (now known as Asbestos Busters) grew from a one man operation for drywall removal services to a 12 employee business offering contractors “one stop shop” services such as drywall removal, construction debris removal, demolitions and asbestos abatement. You can have a listen from Paul himself right here. He’s been sharing his journey at speaking events for years in the hopes of inspiring his peers and the youth in our community..

Cleverly implied by our name, we do really care about being as ethical and Eco-friendly as possible. That’s why we recycle, donate and care. Every piece of drywall that we remove is brought to New West Gypsum. One of the only drywall recycling facilities in Canada and the only one in B.C.  It’s hard to believe that we alone recycled enough drywall in one year to make two and a half of these statues. Imagine what all the drywall in the world weighs.

This year has been very difficult for just about everyone on the planet and one of the biggest industries that’s had to cut huge corners is the event planning and hosting industry. Without events it becomes seemingly difficult to organize fundraisers and create an impact to help raise awareness for charities and causes of any kind. Luckily enough we live in a digital world where billions of people use internet services daily. Because of this, we’ve been able to shrink the world by a vast margin and make distance nearly irrelevant. Given the rules on Social distancing this becomes extremely valuable for organizations, charities and businesses that require people to congregate. Our involvement with ACCESS Youth Outreach Services is not only a big part of our company culture but it’s also part of our Identity. We are extremely proud to be a sponsor and a helping hand in creating a better future for marginalized youth. Giving them the opportunities they deserve continues to inspire us to work harder year after year. As we all learnt to adapt to our new circumstances we were very pleased to find out that Access Youth and other organizations would be doing everything in their power to turn their fundraisers virtual to be able to continue to full-fill their mission.

This year was full of surprises, challenges, highs, lows and everything in between. We are proud to say that we continue to fulfill our company’s mission of creating an opportunity and support for marginalized youth through a socially impactful business model. We are completing another successful year! We kept our hopes & expectations high and we worked hard. With only a few days left in 2019, things are slowly wrapping up and the holidays are fast approaching. We’d like to reflect on how Ethical Waste Services (now known as Asbestos Busters) positively impacted the lives of others and how we contributed to our community. We started the year with a bang when we were awarded the title of an Environmental Steward at the Business Excellence Awards hosted by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce . The same month, Paul was invited to tell his life story on stage in front of a crowd of Voice Story , talking about overcoming shame and becoming the real him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=H6YmgeynuEc&feature=youtu.be In March we connected again and worked closely with the Tri-Cities Friends of Refugees group helping renovate yet another home for one of the refugee families in need. We didn’t hesitate to help when it meant that another family will be provided with a safe home and an opportunity to have a better life. https://www.tricitynews.com/news/power-of-friendship-shows-in-home-renos-for-coquitlam-refugees-1.23656926?fbclid=IwAR1GGvjmFb9Zyh1vtak6yIJ6RPLzlzwLtttJ_-hI0TFtr24W_MVpZy6gkU0 As part of our daily routine we get calls from our customers to get rid of their commercial junk. We try our best to donate the items that are in good condition and can be reused. This year we have continued to work with Habitat for Humanity . We drop off any gently used household items that can be sold for a fair price or used in another home. We manage to avoid few loads from the landfill, trying to save the planet one load at a time.

Spring time is the season when contractors get busy with their demolition, construction or renovation projects. It is also our busiest time dealing with asbestos abatement projects. What happens when we get a call regarding drywall removal or demolition? 1.- We ask when the house/condo was built. 2.- If older than 1984 it is mandatory that it is tested for asbestos. 3.- We provide full service from testing to disposal of asbestos. We have previously explained what is asbestos and why it represents a hazardous health risk. We take this matter very seriously and our staff is especially trained to deal with this material. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) including respirators and protective clothing is essential in controlling and protecting our staff from exposure to asbestos. Protective Clothing: Made of a material that resists penetration by asbestos fibres. Covers the body and fits snugly at the neck, wrists, and ankles. Covers the head. Covers the feet. Can be immediately repaired or replaced if torn. Before an asbestos abatement work begins, a risk assessment process is done and it establishes whether the work involves low, moderate or high risk activity. In most cases, workers must use respirators during all stages of a project in which the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres exists or could develop. Respiratory protection: There are two categories: air-purifying respirators or air-supplying respirators (disposable respirators are NOT acceptable). It is crucial to select an appropriate respirator based on anticipated airborne asbestos concentrations for the job! Proper operation and fit: We provide fit testing when our staff first uses the equipment and it is mandatory to yearly fit test the respirator (seal check) and record the results. There are 2 types of fit testing: qualitative and quantitative. Other PPE equipment that we require in our work sites are: Goggles Hearing protection Hard hat Steel toe shoes Our staff and our customers are always our priority when it comes to dealing with asbestos abatement projects. Asbestos Busters (formerly known as Ethical Waste Services) is a specialist in asbestos removal and we will take care of the whole process from testing to safe disposal! (Source: WorkSafeBC )

Have you heard about “the generation that’s interested in making a positive impact?” If you are a forward thinking company wanting to hire and keep the best young employees, you need to pay attention!

We are excited to be chosen as a finalist for the Tri-Cities Chamber Business Excellence Awards. Being nominated in three categories was an absolute honour and we are proud to be moving forward in the Community Spirit Award category. The Community Spirit Award is defined as; a business or individual that demonstrates an outstanding generous spirit by way of support for Tri-Cities based organizations and non-profits, a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, and ultimately, a dedication to making the Tri-Cities a better place to live, work, and play. Asbestos Busters (Previously known as Ethical Waste Services) embodies this description in every aspect, we are determined to make a difference to our local community. Every year, we donate 50% of our profits to local not-for-profit, ACCESS Youth Outreach Services, supporting local youth and encouraging a safe haven for at-risk youth. We also hire at-risk youth, providing financial stability, work experience and routine. Our goal is to make sure that every person is given the opportunity they deserve. Empowering youth and providing the tools for success ensures the Tri-Cities will remain and continue to be a great place to live, work and play. Paul takes his community commitment a step further by volunteering for ACCESS Youth Outreach Services as member on the Board of Directors and as a volunteer on the ride alongs with the ACCESS bus. For 2016, he is also joining the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team. We are excited to congratulate other Community Spirit nominees, Katrina Shelast from Hair We Are Beauty Boutique and Scotiabank! Take a second to vote for us HERE .

2015 has marked a year of change, growth and development. Thank you to all of our customers for helping us reach our goals. This year, we have collected tons, literally tonnes, of drywall, garbage and asbestos. We recycled 1,221.03 tonnes (2,686,258.95 lbs) of drywall. That is equivalent to 244 large elephants or a 12-storey building. Drywall is recycled at New West Gypsum, Cloverdale Disposal and Capt’n Crunch. We collected 62.26 tonnes (136,982.88 lbs) of garbage. Think about the biggest shark you’ve ever seen, then think even bigger. At 33 feet long the whale shark reaches 60 tonnes. To ensure as many materials as possible will be recycled, we take garbage to local businesses, International Material Recovery, Wastech and Harvest Urban Waste Recyclers. With a surge of demolitions, asbestos jobs have drastically increased. In 2015, we collected 20.57 tonnes (45,250 lbs) of asbestos materials. This tricky substance must be disposed of with care, HLI Hazmat Logistics takes the absestos safely across BC to be properly disposed of in Alberta. Be safe with every demolition and renovation, make sure that you test for asbestos containing material (ACM)! Click here to see a full list of materials that may contain asbestos >> Asbestos Hazards for Homeowners We look forward to another great year in 2016! Looking at renovating? Give us a call, we’ll deal with the mess for you.