Yes that's a common scenario. The heart of the matter is that the DNO don't want the item, it's automatically defined as waste not switchgear, therefore only a hazardous waste company can take it. If they wanted to sell us the heads then they could be called switchgear and we could take on the duty of care re the ACMs. But they don't want to get involved, or have to sort the safe from the hazardous, so at an official level they just put up a flat no, it's too complicated. But sometimes at ground level, it's not so difficult to organise the occasional item.
95% of the switchgear I would like to have saved, has been 'unavailable' due to either actual or suspected ACMs. Even when I know there are no ACMs present, sometimes they won't let me have it tested to prove that is the case. The demolition people don't want to pull the contract from their mates at the hazardous contractors, they just call it all hazardous and everybody's sorted except us.
