Disposal of nitrous oxide cans costing council 'tens of thousands'

LOUISE WALSH

The disposal of dumped empty nitrous oxide cans is costing Meath Co. Council 'tens of thousands' of euro each year.

Empty cans of the toxic gas are being dumped in all rural and urban locations across the county and even along the sides of motorways where it appears they are being flung from cars.

Due to the hazardous nature of the cans, a specialised company has to dispose of them for the local authority which costs the taxpayer between €40 and €50 per container.

The county's litter warden Alan Nolan says the issue has been getting worse over the last five years and believes it will only be alleviated through proper regulation of the industry.

Nitrous oxide or laughing gas, is typically used by dentists or in hospitals as a sedative or as an additive in whipped cream in the catering industry

However its misuse can lead to nerve damage and freeze burns.

"We are picking up empty canisters in housing estates, at farm gateways, along rivers, in fields and even at the side of the motorway. It's obviously not just kids that are littering as we are finding dumped cans in many places that you would need a car to access," he said.

"Generally, everywhere we find a number of the cannisters, we also find a pack of balloons which are used to inhale the gas."

Alan says that in recent times, they have been picking up dumped industrial sized canisters which are four times bigger than the normal tin and even have a handle to carry easily.

Last year, he estimates that 1200 canisters were disposed of by the council, and these are only the ones which the litter wardens have found.

Alan estimates that this would have cost the tax payer between €48000 and €60000 in proper disposal fees.

Meath Co. Council has confirmed that they don't have a breakdown for the specific cost of disposing of the canisters as part of their hazardous waste bill.

"Each can costs between €40 and €50 to dispose of properly because they are deemed as a hazardous substance so it is costing Meath Co. Council tens of thousands of euro each year just to dispose of these cans."

He has asked parents to be vigilant of what their child is spending their money on but is also asking residents groups not to pick up these cans while doing an estate clean-up, but instead to contact Meath Co. Council.

"These canisters could be unstable or cracked and could cause burn injuries so we are asking residents with the best will in the world, not to pick up any discarded cans around their estates and areas but to notify us first."