What is Asbestos, what are the main types and where does it come from?

Adam Fox • 4 May 2023

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries due to its unique properties. 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries due to its unique properties. It was primarily used for insulation, fire resistance and as a strengthening agent in various building materials. However, it has now been banned in many countries due to its severe health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. In this article, we will explore what asbestos is, its history of use, the main types of asbestos, where it comes from, and how to identify it.


Introduction to Asbestos


Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is composed of thin, fibrous crystals. These crystals are extremely durable and resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity, making it a popular material for various industrial and commercial applications. Asbestos has been used in a variety of products, including building materials, automotive parts, and textiles.


What is Asbestos?


Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals that are composed of thin, fibrous crystals. The six types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos and accounts for approximately 95% of all asbestos used in the United Kingdom.


The History of Asbestos Use


Asbestos has been used for centuries due to its unique properties. The ancient Greeks and Romans used asbestos to make clothing, tablecloths, and napkins. In the 1800s, asbestos was used as insulation in steam engines. It wasn't until the early 1900s that asbestos became widely used in building materials. However, by the 1970s, the severe health risks associated with asbestos were widely known, and its use began to decline.


The Main Types of Asbestos


The six types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos and is often referred to as "white asbestos." It is primarily found in commercial and industrial applications, including insulation, roofing, and brake linings. Amosite, or "brown asbestos," is primarily found in insulation and ceiling tiles. Crocidolite, or "blue asbestos," is considered to be the most dangerous type of asbestos and is primarily found in insulation and cement products. Tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite are not commonly used in commercial applications.


Where Does Asbestos Come From?


Asbestos is found naturally in rocks and soil. It is primarily mined in Russia, China, and Canada, although it has been mined in other countries as well. Asbestos is often found in close proximity to other minerals, including talc and vermiculite. Asbestos fibres can be released into the air during mining and processing, posing a severe health risk to workers and nearby residents.


The Uses of Asbestos


Asbestos has been used for centuries due to its unique properties. It is primarily used for insulation, fire resistance, and as a strengthening agent in various building materials. Asbestos has been used in a variety of products, including roofing shingles, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, cement products, and automotive parts.


How to Identify Asbestos


Identifying asbestos can be difficult, as it is often mixed with other materials. The only way to definitively identify asbestos is to have a sample analysed by a qualified laboratory. However, there are some common signs that may indicate the presence of asbestos, including the age of the building, the type of materials used, and the condition of the materials.


Conclusion


Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries due to its unique properties. However, it is now widely known that asbestos poses severe health risks, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. It has been banned in many countries, but it can still be found in older buildings and products. If you are worried that you may have asbestos in your property, it is essential to contact a qualified professional to identify and remove it safely.


Contact Consulo Compliance today and let us help keep you safe.

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by Adam Fox 9 April 2025
Asbestos and the Circular Economy: Why It's Time to Stop Burying the Problem Twenty-five years after asbestos was banned in the UK, we’re still digging a hole—literally and metaphorically. Every day, across the country, asbestos waste is double-bagged, labelled, loaded into skips, and driven to landfill, where it will sit indefinitely, taking up valuable space, creating ongoing liability, and adding to our already bloated environmental burden. And yet, 2025 presents a different path. A smarter one. One that replaces disposal with repurposing, and turns a dangerous waste product into a useful, circular resource. The technology exists. So the question we should be asking isn’t “Can we recycle asbestos?” It’s “Why the hell aren’t we doing it already?” Landfill is Failing Us—But We’re Still Relying On It Let’s start with the basics. There are still over 1.5 million buildings in the UK that contain asbestos, most of them now approaching the end of their useful life. As these structures age or undergo refurbishment, the volume of asbestos waste is only going to increase. Right now, we handle that waste the same way we did decades ago: • Identify it • Remove it (usually under fully controlled conditions) • Seal it in heavy-duty plastic • Drive it to landfill • Bury it • Forget about it Except we don’t forget, do we? Because landfill space is running out. Disposal costs are going up. And the environmental cost? We’re only just starting to count it. There’s a Better Way—and It Already Works Here’s what most duty holders don’t realise: We no longer have to bury asbestos. Thanks to recent advances in thermal treatment technology, we now have a method that can safely denature asbestos, breaking down its fibrous structure and rendering it harmless. Companies like Thermal Recycling in the UK are already proving this is not science fiction. They’re using high temperatures to transform asbestos cement products—like corrugated roofing sheets—into an inert ceramic material that’s completely safe. But here's the best bit: That material isn’t just neutral. It’s useful. It can be crushed and graded into aggregate, which can be used in road construction, paving, and concrete mixes. Instead of creating a waste burden for the next generation, we’re creating a valuable, low-carbon building material. Why Aggregate Matters in the Carbon Equation The production of virgin aggregates—through mining and quarrying—is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. It contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions and destroys natural landscapes. So by replacing some of that demand with recycled aggregate from denatured asbestos, we: • Cut carbon emissions • Reduce dependence on extraction • Shrink the environmental footprint of infrastructure projects • Extend the life of quarries and reduce waste tonnage That’s not just a win for waste management. That’s a win for the entire construction supply chain. And yet most people in the industry don’t even know it’s possible. Why Are We Still Burying What Could Be Reused? As someone who’s worked in asbestos compliance for over 20 years—and now helps business leaders manage risk more intelligently—I’ve seen the same patterns play out time and time again: • “We’ll just do what we’ve always done.” • “This project’s tight on budget—landfill’s cheaper, right?” • “We’re just following the usual route—it’s less risky.” Let’s be honest. That mindset is outdated, short-sighted, and lazy. Cost may always be a factor, but the belief that landfill is “cheaper” needs to be challenged. Once you factor in: • Long-term environmental costs • Reputational risk • Rising disposal fees • And the public pressure for sustainable practices Thermal recycling is already starting to make sense. Especially when the output is something usable, not something buried. Licensed Contractors: You Don’t Get a Free Pass Either This isn’t just about clients or duty holders. Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors (LARC’s) have a moral obligation here too. And I say that not from a place of opinion—but from first-hand experience, day in and day out for over two decades. Too often, LARCs put profits over progress. They default to landfill because it’s faster, easier to price up, and keeps their margins clean. They know the alternatives exist—but they don’t explore them, let alone offer them to their clients. When you hold a licence from the HSE, you’re not just a business—you’re a guardian of public health. That comes with responsibility. Choosing the most sustainable, forward-thinking disposal route should be part of that. Especially when the technology is available, proven, and legal. It’s time for the industry to stop hiding behind what’s convenient and start leading from the front. A Moral Obligation for Everyone Involved Whether you’re a: • Local authority managing public buildings • Developer under pressure to go green • Commercial landlord looking to reduce liability • Or a licensed contractor with influence over disposal routes —you have a responsibility to look beyond the cheapest or fastest option. If there’s a proven, safe, and more sustainable way to manage asbestos, you have a duty to understand it before choosing to ignore it. Because let’s be honest: “We didn’t know” isn’t going to wash when the public starts asking why we’re still filling landfill sites with a problem we already have the technology to eliminate. So What Can You Do Differently? No one’s asking you to overhaul your entire waste strategy overnight. But you can—and should—start asking better questions: • “Is landfill our only option here?” • “Could this waste stream be recycled instead of buried?” • “What suppliers, contractors, or experts do we know who can help us explore this?” You don’t have to be a global pioneer. But if you’re in a position of responsibility, you should at least be aware that the old way isn’t the only way anymore. Final Thought: The Future Is Circular—Whether You Join In or Not Asbestos will be with us for decades to come. That’s a fact. But how we handle it—and whether we choose to keep repeating the past or do something smarter—is up to us. Thermal recycling and other denaturing technologies offer a rare opportunity to do something that actually moves the industry forward. Not just ticking the compliance box. Not just burying the problem. But solving it—and turning it into something useful in the process. If you’re involved in asbestos management in even the slightest way, ask yourself this: Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?
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