Asbestos, am I being utterly crazy or is this unreasonable?

[Uniffo]

My neighbours are renovating. We are detached but still reasonably close. They have asbestos on some part of the outside of their house/along the garage frames etc. they are removing it all next week and casually told us that ‘I think you’re supposed to get it removed by specialists but we are just going to bin it.’ Meaning the wheely bins.

Could this not mean bits of asbestos come into our home? Our garden? Etc. we have a baby which is making me more worried.

A friend of mine’s husband died at the relatively young age of 60 due to breathing in asbestos when he was about 20. All he did was help a neighbour dismantle an old asbestos building and chuck the broken pieces in a skip. That was the sum total of his exposure - It wasn’t a lifetime spent in the asbestos industry - just a few hours spent knocking asbestos about without protection. The stuff lodged in his lungs and killed him 40 years later. I was really shocked and saddened when I found out how he’d died, i wouldn’t have believed it possible from so little exposure.

Actually people could, actually, die.

And the neighbours could (should) end up with a fine and potential jail time.

EXACTLY THIS.

I work in a related industry and I know I keep posting but please please take action. This is exactly what the consequences can be just from one period of exposure.

You need to report this to environmental health. There are really strict rules about asbestos removal. It only takes one tiny piece getting into your lungs to cause asbestosis.
They will also be endangering the council waste collection crew and could actually be prosecuted or even jailed for potential injury to a crew member.

Ah well that’s ok then!!
Do you specialise in asbestos, no of course you don’t, because if you did, you wouldn’t be making such ridiculous claim.For clarification, it’s illegal to be disposing of asbestos.End of.

Asbestos should not cause any health problems if it is in good condition and is dismantled and disposed of correctly.

There are two important concepts in that statement, neither of which seem to be satisfied by the aesbestos and its removal in the OP.

Neighbour, is that you?

I'd report to council environment health department and HSE.

While I don't think they'll be much risk to you there is a risk to the bin men and the future generations who have to deal with the landfill tip.
Asbestos has only been allowed in certain tips for decades, so future generations know what they are dealling with in what areas.

The risk with asbestos is breathing in the dust, so as soon as they start to break it up. Untouched, in good condition, there's very little risk.

www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

Everything you need to know is here

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

If it's a garage then this

Which council?

A.K.A Steptoe -This information, is easy to
find out.

Removing asbestos yourself is not safe.Any attempt to handle asbestos, puts you and your household at risk, of developing lung cancers & other health problems.People who consider removing asbestos themselves are just avoiding hiring a professional.Unless you hold a HSE license in uk it’s illegal.
Unsurprisingly the tip, won’t accept asbestos!

I’m a guy who has worked with asbestos and it needs to be soaked before removed. Thrown dry in a bin, the asbestos could go anywhere, worst case scenario into your lungs. Keep watch and report it to the council.

Except that the neighbours have said they believe they should use specialists but are not going to bother and will just bin it. That suggests to me they are stupid. If they said "We have done careful research and know how to dismantle and dispose of it properly" I would maybe agree with you.