Comments on: how ot dispose a pressurized can

Question: how ot dispose a pressurized can

Kevin S — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:25:49 -0800

How to dispose a pressurized can?

A closet clean-out revealed a rusty aerosol can of lysol. It still has liquid inside and presumably is under pressure.

Normally, I would deplete the can and stick into the bin for the weekly trip to the town transfer station. But the valve/button is "frozen"; i.e., it doesn't seem to move when depressed & hence there is no obvious way to finish it off.

My concern is that it might injure someone if it "explodes", say when squished by the backloader at the transfer station.

Any ideas?

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:43:02 -0800

Just toss it in the bin as usual. Thousands of undepleted cans like this pass through the system daily with no problems or incidents.

By: wackybrit

wackybrit — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:45:44 -0800

When this happens commercially, companies either have a special "piercing" machine (if they have a lot of cans) or get it sent to a company who performs that service. So.. if you can find a way that you're confident with piercing it safely, that's probably the only option (other than just throwing it). If I were doing it, I'd get a bucket of earth, put the can right in, then puncture through the earth while leaning back!

By: leapfrog

leapfrog — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:02:41 -0800

Most modern urban centers have dedicated facilities for disposal of hazardous materials. Consult your local government directory or contact the municipal waste authority; they very likely have a weekly or event set up for residents to drop off the things that shouldn't just go to the landfill. They will most assuredly know how to handle a pressurized aerosol can.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:01:28 -0800

I don't know how garbage collection is handled where you are but in garbage trucks here, there is absolutely no possibility of injury to the garbage man if a can "explodes" when being compacted inside the truck. The compaction process is internal.

By: TheNewWazoo

TheNewWazoo — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:33:27 -0800

Shoot it with a .22

:)

By: Kevin S

Kevin S — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:59:48 -0800

Thanks everyone. I like the .22 and bucket of earth idea, but will likely settle for the practical alternative of sticking it in the garbage.