Category Danger level: Problem products

Many products of daily life are available as spray: deodorants or hair spray, room sprays, shaving foam, insecticides and pesticides, chain sprays for bicycles, paints, assembly foam (PUR foam), but also food such as spray cream, to give just a few examples. Apart from advantages, spray cans also have disadvantages. Regardless of the ingredients, they pose a danger because they are filled with propellant gas. This is under pressure and can explode at higher temperatures or improper use.

The previously used propellant CFC (Freon®, Frigen®), which is a major cause of the destruction of the ozone layer and a high global warming potential, has been banned for spray cans since 1991. However, it can be found in older products, but today mainly propane and butane are used as propellants. These gases are highly flammable (they are also used in camping gas cookers). They do not endanger the ozone layer, but they contribute to global warming if they are released uncontrollably.

Another danger lies in the components of the spray cans. Even ’empty’ spray cans contain more or less large quantities of residues. If it is a problem substance, such as oil or insecticides, improper handling can lead to environmental hazards.

After crushing, metals are recovered and residues are thermally recycled (see resources potential).

Corona has accelerated it, the heat waves as part of climate change are doing the rest – the demand for private swimming pools has recently increased rapidly. But you should also think about the environment!

In Luxembourg, too, droughts are occurring more frequently as a result of climate change. A responsible and economical use of drinking water is therefore necessary. The energy consumption of pumps and filter systems should also not be neglected. Public swimming pools and bathing facilities are a sustainable alternative to your own pool. The water quality is managed and controlled here by professionals.

Other alternatives are swimming ponds or natural pools. A new trend are so-called living pools, which have biological water treatment.

Should you nevertheless operate a private pool, please note the following:

• First use mechanical cleaning methods (bottom vacuum cleaner, landing net, brush) or, in the case of larger systems, circulation via a filter system, such as a sand filter.
• Only use chemical agents such as flocculants, algaecides, overwintering agents, pool cleaning agents, agents to adjust the pH value and disinfectants as intended. Improper use endangers health and the environment. Pay attention to dosing instructions
• When storing, make sure that children or pets do not reach chemical products and do not store products (packaging can become brittle).

Dispose of hazardous packaging (hazard symbol), leftovers and old products via the SuperDrecksKëscht® mobile collection system or in the Resources Center. Also pay attention to the information on the labels and enclosed information leaflets during disposal.

And the pool water?

In general, you should discharge treated pool water into the sewer system. Of course, the municipal regulations must be taken into account. So check with your community.

Of course, if you haven’t added any chemicals, you can use the water to water your plants and green areas or to feed your rainwater cistern.

The following chemical products are used in pool maintenance:

• Disinfection: Reduction of microorganisms (especially fungi, bacteria) and other organic material (leaves, urine, dander).
• pH regulation: Dosing/application of chemicals depends on the pH value.
• Cleaning: Acidic or alkaline cleaners to remove mineral or organic deposits through continuous operation.

Decisive for the disposal of wood ash is the type and origin of the fuel and the quantity.

In the private environment, ash is produced, for example, by burning logs in fireplaces and stoves as well as by pellet heating systems.

Wood ash is not a typical problem product that can be handled via the SuperDrecksKëscht®. Also, the resources centers do not accept ash.

The correct way is usually to dispose of the cooled ash via the domestic waste. Of course, hot ash should never be placed in the plastic waste containers used today.

There is no objection to the use of ash as a home remedy, for example for cleaning the glass panes of stoves, provided it is then disposed of as indicated. This way you can avoid additional chemical cleaning agents. Requirements: the fuel is natural and untreated fuel from sources that can be trusted, such as hardwoods (beech, oak, ash, fruit trees).

The wood ash existing here in large quantities is analysed and further treated according to the quality. This can be:

• – landfilling
• – production of a standardised fertiliser after pre-treatment
• – aggregates in the cement industry
• – aggregates in road and path construction
• – backfill material in mining

This was the subject of a study from March 2020 – Possibilities to utilise ash from the calorific usage of fuel from natural wood with special consideration of a usage as fertiliser and soil improver, commissioned by the Luxembourg Environmental Administration.