how to dispose of SN

[sportsguy56]

I have decided I don't want to ctb by using sn anymore. however I still have a package of it. the package is closed and was never opened. how do I safely dispose of the package of sn?

 

[Ecka-26]

I have decided I don't want to ctb by using sn anymore. however I still have a package of it. the package is closed and was never opened. how do I safely dispose of the package of sn?

Why not just flush it in the toilet? Or toss it in the dumpster? Double bag it mix it with your trash and be done with it, I'm sure it will be fine

 

[sharky]

Why not just flush it in the toilet? Or toss it in the dumpster? Double bag it mix it with your trash and be done with it, I'm sure it will be fine

You don't flush stuff like that down the toilet for many reasons

 

[Ecka-26]

You don't flush stuff like that down the toilet for many reasons

Sorry I figured flushing it down wouldn't be a big deal

 

[rationaltake]

I want to get rid of mine too. Never opened, in a bottle. Double bagged in a dumpster sounds safe enough.

I've got some I don't trust. I'm worried about chucking it in a bin. People or animals might come into contact with it.

 

[its-about-time]

Do NOT flush it down the toilet!! Or expose it to the environment in any other way. No no no no no.

This question is so easily answered by Google, I didn't have to even click any links. Just make sure it's in a secure container then throw it away. Yours is unopened so that's great. Putting the existing package in a hard container to dispose of it would minimize any chance of an animal getting into it.

 

[rationaltake]

Do NOT flush it down the toilet!! Or expose it to the environment in any other way. No no no no no.

This question is so easily answered by Google, I didn't have to even click any links. Just make sure it's in a secure container then throw it away. Yours is unopened so that's great. Putting the existing package in a hard container to dispose of it would minimize any chance of an animal getting into it.

Thanks. I worry excessively about everything. I have two unopened containers.

 

[its-about-time]

Thanks. I worry excessively about everything. I have two unopened containers.

No worries. SN is very damaging to the environment. As long as it stays contained, you're good. If you have a cat, an empty plastic litter container would be a good option. Or a utility bucket with a lid. Something thick and sturdy.

 

[rationaltake]

No worries. SN is very damaging to the environment. As long as it stays contained, you're good. If you have a cat, an empty plastic litter container would be a good option. Or a utility bucket with a lid. Something thick and sturdy.

It's mentioned as a hazardous substance online. A local tip might take it but they want photo ID which I don't have.

 

[its-about-time]

It's mentioned as a hazardous substance online. A local tip might take it but they want photo ID which I don't have.

Your other option is to activate the substance so it loses its potency. It will still need to be contained when you dispose of it but may be less likely to cause significant damage if it were to be opened. However it would pose a danger to you to mess with it like that and you'd have a larger quantity of material to dispose of. My opinion is your best bet is add an extra sturdy container around the already sealed packages and toss it in your trash.

 

[waitingforrest]

Please contact the nearest hazardous chemicals disposal centers. Do NOT flush, bury or toss it out. And do NOT set in on fire.

 

[sportsguy56]

Please contact the nearest hazardous chemicals disposal centers. Do NOT flush, bury or toss it out. And do NOT set in on fire.

why can't I just toss it out in my garbage can if it was never opened?

 

[NothingElseMatters]

do whatever suits you best man, i'd throw it into the garbage can.

 

[wljourney]

I want to get rid of mine too. Never opened, in a bottle. Double bagged in a dumpster sounds safe enough.

No please don't do this. It's really toxic for wildlife and fish.

Best would be to bring it to a dumpster that collects toxic waste. Some cities have a few days a year when you can drop it off at a more central location (city hall etc).

do whatever suits you best man, i'd throw it into the garbage can.

SN is considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of accordingly (bring it to a local collection point). City-run dumpster usually have specific days/hours when they accept hazardous waste.

 

[wljourney]

In the states? Okay. I have it just sitting here. Enough to take out my whole town, and I'm flummoxed as to how to get rid of it. I don't know if our dump will take it. I can't imagine this phone call will go! Hopefully they won't ask too many questions.

Tell them the previous home owner/tenant must have left it. You googled and thought it's best to ask for their help.

Good luck and let us know. They should be able to take it.

 

[its-about-time]

I disagree- sn is a food additive that is in foods all the time, it is only deadly when it is very concentrated- when it gets diluted in the water system it will be completely harmless. You could be extra careful by mixing maybe 1/2 cup into a gallon and flushing that, and to keep doing this until it is gone. Sn is harmless when it is diluted- it is aused for large volumes of cured meats every dy. Down the toilet is way better that in the dumpster, where an animal could get at it.

No. Do some research if you're curious for examples or details. Everything says the exact opposite and states directly pure SN should not be released in the environment at all—special cleanup and containment is necessary with even small accidental spillage. What you are saying about how it is less harmful in small concentrations is true for sure but does not directly translate to it being harmless to flush it down the drain etc. Especially two packages worth!

 

[its-about-time]

If you dilute it enough it will be perfectly fine. The concentration used in food is one teaspoon per five pounds of meat, so based on this you could figure out a concentration that would work. I'm not sure what this concentration would be exactly, but it could be figured out.

It could certainly be figured out. If we were talking about SN being released into a group of humans lol. The environment has different reactions and tolerances, both flora and fauna.

Here's a quick little info sheet on nitrite and aquatic life. Notice that cold water aquatic life (Europe, North America, etc) has a much lower level for toxicity than warm water (tropical). Meaning they are impacted even more severely.

https://aquafishcrsp.oregonstate.edu/sites/aquafishcrsp.oregonstate.edu/files/boyd2014nitritetoxicity_gaa.pdf

As much as 0.25mg/L is lethal to certain fish. The exact calculation is that 0.25mg/L is lethal to 50% of fish within 96 hours of exposure. 0.25mg is 0.00025g. OP has two packages and it seems most packages sold are 100g+. To safely dispose of that quantity SN into the water system is going to require tens and tens of thousands of L of water to dilute to the point where it will only kill a huge fraction of wildlife instead of all of them.

I could go on. This is FAR too risky for ANYBODY to EVER do. "Toilet water goes to a septic and filtration/cleansing station!" don't make me throw a bunch of more research at you that you could do yourself lol. It's not enough. There's a reason why authorities say not to flush poison and medication etc down the toilet - because the standard filtration does not filter every single harmful substance known to man, just the ones common in septic tanks.

OP, this is not a matter that should be decided upon by reckless speculation. Follow the instructions on every single chemical website regarding disposing of SN and do NOT flush it down any type of drain or otherwise release it into the environment. Store in a tight secure container and dispose of it.

 

[its-about-time]

It is not a poison when it is diluted enough- it is a food additive that most americans eat every single week for their whole lives with no ill effects when it is diluted enough.

You are absolutely missing the point so I'm going to stop trying. Poke around Google for awhile if you're still interested. I'll add that SN as used in meat preservation has actually been strongly linked to gastric cancer with heavy consumption as it turns into a carcinogen in our bodies, but that's besides the point. Anyway Google is full of amazing answers if you look for them.

I'm confident OP is responsible and wants to dispose of their SN safely and correctly so I'm not concerned they will listen to this kind of narrow-sighted speculation. I'm not trying to be rude I just think your uninformed speculative advice is incredibly reckless. But I suppose this is the internet!

 

[stoiccactus]

I would just wrap in a ziplock and dispose of in a dumpster. Some cities have special trash days where you can put out things that are hazardous, like paint and so on. Maybe thats an option too.

 

[its-about-time]

Wrong. If you dispose of it in a container an animal could get into it and be harmed by it. Your arrogance and insulting manner of communicating is astonishing.

You're worried about an animal being harmed yet suggested mixing half a cup of SN in a gallon of water and dumping it down the drain… ok. I'm not here to engage in insults and drama and whatever else, no matter how equally astonished I am by you. I am legitimately concerned about your suggestions for OP but feel I've said as much as I can, for OP to read. I attempted to provide some information to you and it didn't go well. I do not need to convince you of anything. So, this is where the conversation ends for me. Best to you.

 

[stoiccactus]

Only half joking: any cool science experiments you can do with SN? I used some NaOH drain cleaner today and it was pretty cool to watch it do its thing.