Well the heap of soil is cross contaminated so it should be treated as asbestos waste for a start. What type/ form of asbestos present needs to be ascertained although from the information you give the fact that the asbestos is in fragments and is therefore significantly damaged. The use of a licensed contractor is inevitable here. But no 'sifting'. A controlled clean up of the immediate area may be possible. Air monitoring and further bulk samples of the contaminated area will inform the scope of the clean up. The fact the asbestos is significantly damaged means that the control limit has or will be breached if the correct control measures are not followed.

Have had this issue a number of times and you will need to have some discussions with all of the following: HSE, Env. Agency and Local Authority Contaminated Land Officer and the Planning Officer. Depending on types, forms, overall amount and the site location the controls will need to be developed. These have included in my experience - Hand picking, look outs during excavation to hand pick large fragments and reviewing the muck away policy to reduce the amount of fill removed from site. Each party will have their own views and you need to take it all into account. If the amount is large, my last one was 40,000 cubic metre, many tips are unhappy to receive it and may even refuse the load. The economics once this has happened/discovered need to be closely reviewed to keep costs under control. You may be asked to compile evidence for prosecution if the offender can be traced and is still in business. In my case the original developing company's demolition man had put literally everything through the crusher - AC, AIB and fibrous insulation and cloth. We calculated around 250tonne based on early site surveys. Guess what no type 3 done! You do need to train surveyors and QSs to be on the look out for this on brownfield sites. Bob