How to Safely Dispose of Loft Insulation

There are a variety of reasons why you might want to dispose of old insulation within your loft, including damage, the desire to switch to a different material, or having leftover insulation after finishing work. Most insulation materials cannot be disposed of in regular waste or recycling, you’ll instead need to find your local household waste recycling centre and take it there. In some cases, you may have to engage the services of a professional waste remover.

Why You Might Need to Dispose of Loft Insulation

Loft insulation and other insulation materials installed within a house will have a natural lifespan to them. When looking to install new insulation, you can either top up what is already there or replace it with newer insulation materials. You may also need to replace insulation that has been damaged by dampness or mould. Another reason for disposal is if you have offcuts or leftover insulation from a fitting.

Watch Out For Asbestos Loft Insulation!

Depending on the age of the insulation in your home it could potentially contain asbestos. Asbestos insulation has not been widely used since the 1980s, but this means that plenty of UK lofts could still have it. Asbestos can come in several forms and colours, including loose and solid insulation. If you are looking to remove old insulation from your loft or house and you are not sure what type of material has been used, you should never risk exposure. Instead, hire an asbestos professional to analyse and remove it.

Fibreglass Loft Insulation Disposal

Due to the dangers that can come with fibreglass insulation exposure, you cannot simply place it within a general bin. Disposing of it properly will limit environmental dangers, whilst avoiding legal ramifications. You can store fibreglass insulation within secure plastic bags, double wrapping it to avoid potential breakages.

You can take it to a household waste recycling centre if you are replacing the insulation yourself. If a contractor is replacing it they will need to privately dispose of fibreglass, which they can do for a small fee. When handling fibreglass insulation make sure that you wear gloves and protective gear including an N95 dust mask. Recycling fibreglass insulation is not likely to be possible if it has been used.

Mineral Wool Loft Insulation Disposal

Sometimes called glass wool, mineral wool insulation must be taken to a household waste recycling centre, and securely placed within plastic bags. If using a contractor they will need to arrange for the private disposal of older mineral wool insulation. Some manufacturers such as Rockwool operate a scheme to recycle their older products, providing they have not been contaminated, though this is likely to only be relevant to larger construction companies.

How to Dispose of Solid Insulation Boards

In a lot of cases, solid insulation boards such as PIR boards can be re-used when removed from a building. Larger construction projects will have schemes to do this, while a smaller household may simply be able to give them away. If looking to dispose of them you’ll need to take them to your local household waste recycling centre. For larger amounts of insulation boards, energy recovery may be available, a waste management process where older insulation can be used to generate energy. This will also depend on your local area.

Blown-in Loft Insulation Disposal

Blown-in insulation will need to be gathered from your loft and placed in plastic bags. You can use a vacuum to hoover up loose insulation. When working with blown-in loft insulation you should wear a full set of protective gear, including a dust mask. You can contact your local county council and ask if they have a specific recycling service for the type of blown-in insulation you are using. Depending on whether you have fibreglass, mineral wool, or cellulose insulation, there may be specific disposal sites in your area.

Spray Foam Loft Insulation Disposal

Removing spray foam insulation is a professional job, which can be expensive and labour-intensive. Due to the damage that can be caused by incorrect removals, as well as the potentially toxic fumes from broken spray foam, it is worth engaging the services of a loft insulation disposal expert to remove spray foam insulation in your loft.