There is no safe way to dispose of 'laughing gas' canisters in Kildare

Kildare County Council says it has no way of getting rid of nitrous oxide canisters.

Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas”  has medical, industrial and recreational uses but the safe disposal of the potentially dangerous canisters  has become a major issue for the recycling and waste management industry, according to Kildare County Council.

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The issue was raised at a KCC meeting by three councillors - Peggy Dwyer,  William Durkan and Brendan Wyse - who asked KCC to contact the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment for guidance.

Cllr O’Dwyer said: “Over the last number of years large cylindrical nitrous oxide canisters have become a common sight in our community. Disposing of the canisters has become an issue with no clear guidelines about safe disposal.”

She added the purchase of the gas for medical, industrial and commercial use is not illegal but “unfortunately its use as a recreational experience has become all too common with the health risk ignored by the users.”

According to KCC official Marian Higgins, the council has no facilities to store and dispose of these canisters, nor are they accepted by locally based waste collection operators for health and safety reasons.

She added that due to the physical nature of the canister, it is difficult to ascertain if it is empty or full. 

“Whilst an empty canister is widely recyclable, if gas remains in the container, it may explode if crushed - it cannot be processed through standard recycling facilities.

“This issue of disposal is not unique to Kildare and is rather a national issue that requires addressing at a nationwide level.