Ottawa Neighbourhood Worries About Asbestos Debris

Residents of Ottawa’s Little Italy neighourhood are alarmed about demolition work that’s been going on in their neighbourhood. They say they feel endangered ever since asbestos was discovered among the debris.

The demolition site was shut down by the Ministry of Labour after the discovery but the neighbours say a tarp over the partially taken down building blew off in strong winds, sending dust flying over the whole area. While the Ministry issued the stop work order, there’s some confusion over who is responsible for informing the public. In the meantime, some people have left their homes in fear of their health.

A CBC news video shows the warning signs that went up on the building but it’s also clear that the tarps did not contain the material and one resident even showed news crews that the asbestos dust had reached his daughter’s bedroom.

At issue: the owner of the building failed to check for the presence of asbestos before going ahead with the demolition. He claims no one told him it was required while residents grow frustrated at the lack of information and inaction.

Check Before You Begin
The rules are clear – in the case of a demolition in the province of Ontario, you are required to ascertain the presence of hazardous substances – including asbestos – before you begin.

• You may not be planning to demolish your home, but what about renovations?

Like outright demolition, renovations can disturb asbestos and create the inhalable fibres that are a proven danger to human health. If your home was built before the mid-1980’s, asbestos may be present in a wide variety of areas, in many cases mixed with other materials like concrete or vinyl. You may find it in:

• Ceiling and floor tiles
• Insulation
• Wall panels
• Roofing material
• Window and door caulking
• And more!

At GreenStream Environmental, our seasoned team of asbestos removal experts can handle large or smaller asbestos remediation or removal jobs.

In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414. Contact us for a quote today.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414.  You’ll be glad you did.