A system and method for removing asbestos and other hazardous solids from a slurry collected during removal of coatings from pipelines, equipment and other structures. The slurry is collected in a collection pan that is attached to a shroud of a hydrocleaning machine. Contaminated air and the slurry is transferred to a vacuum hopper. The contaminated air is removed from the vacuum hopper. The contaminated air is filtered to remove solid particles. Solid particles are preferably separated from the slurry by passing the slurry through various stages of filters. Pumps are used to transfer the slurry from the collection pan through the filter stages. A first flocculent is injected into the slurry to coagulate the solid particles into individual masses. A second flocculent can be injected into the slurry in order to coagulate a majority of the remaining solid particles. The coagulated masses of solid particles are removed by passing the slurry through a weir or a screen shaker. The slurry discharged from the weir or screen shaker is then passed through further filters.