Acetylengasflaschen stellen bei der Entsorgung eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Die SDK wickelt Acetylengasflaschen daher zum Fachbetrieb UTM, Lübeck ab.

Acetylene gas cylinders are filled with a porous mass which contains solvents and which may contain asbestos. Because of these two factors, solvent and possible asbestos fibres in the mass, special treatment of old acetylene gas cylinders is necessary.

In UTM’s treatment process, acetylene gas cylinders are heated in a vacuum-thermal furnace process to distil the solvent before they are broken open. After the oven process, the mass is dry and the bottle body can now be split open without risk.

Defective lighters can cause fires in the waste bin. Lighters should also not be exposed to direct sunlight or other sources of heat, as this can lead to explosions. Lighters also become dangerous if they get into the hands of children.

Gas lighters can be found in almost every household; they have replaced the matches that were common in the past. Lighters that are no longer usable may contain residual gases and must therefore be disposed of properly. They can be handed in at the SDK‘s mobile and stationary collection points.

The association of catering businesses – the Horesca, as well as a large Luxembourg tobacco producer support the SDK as partners. Many hotels, restaurants and cafés, as well as supermarkets, tobacco shops and petrol stations have set up collection boxes so that customers can also hand in their empty lighters here. Collection boxes are also available for private individuals on request from the SDK and many Resources Centers.

The collected lighters are thermally treated in a high-temperature incineration plant combined with the generation of energy.

Through preventive measures, fires in the house or vehicle can be excluded as far as possible, but not completely prevented. Since different chemical processes take place in each fire depending on the fuel, different extinguishing agents are required.

What are the types ?

Water and foam extinguishers contain water as extinguishing agent, which is provided with various chemical additives in order to be able to fight a fire efficiently with as little water as possible.

Powder extinguishers contain a powdery salt mixture. The suitable powder can be used to extinguish fires of solids, liquids, gases and also light metals.

Gas extinguishers contain a chemically stable, inert and non-flammable gas that is also heavier than air (e.g. CO₂). They have the advantage that extinguishing does not cause any additional damage (water, dust, etc.) is caused by extinguishing. The gas extinguishers also include the halon extinguishers, which have been banned since 1994. Halons are chemically related to the CFCs in refrigerators and damage the ozone layer.

How does a fire extinguisher work ?

Fire extinguishers contain extinguishing agents in pressure-resistant metal cylinders. It is released by a propellant gas (usually CO₂ or nitrogen) in powder and liquid extinguishers. By removing the sealed locking pin and activating the propellant gas cartridge (not necessary for permanent pressure extinguishers), the extinguishing agent can be applied to the source of the fire. It withdraws the energy from the fire and/or displaces the oxygen, so that the fire goes out.

Where to put old fire extinguishers ?

Old fire extinguishers from households can be handed in at all SuperDrecksKëscht^® fir Bierger collection points.

What happens then ?

Halon extinguishers are rendered harmless in special high-temperature plants.

Powder extinguishers go to the partner LRD, where the disassembly takes place.

• Never use water to extinguish burning fats, danger of a fat explosion !
• Gas extinguishers can get very cold when used, danger of frostbite !

Product receiver:
LRD Löschmittelrecycling, D-Harsefeld
www.lrd-umweltdienste.de

Helium gas is a non-toxic and non-flammable gas. Since it is lighter than air, it is increasingly used to fill balloons. It is often already included in the “carefree” balloon sets for birthdays, weddings or other celebrations: The foil or latex balloons filled with balloon gas not only float decoratively under the ceiling, but they are also released into the air. These gas cylinders in the ready-made sets are usually disposable bottles.

Since it cannot be ruled out that pressurized helium cylinders (balloon gas) are still filled with gas after use (pressure vessels), they are among the problematic products collected by SDK. Laypersons are generally advised not to empty gas cylinders.

First, of course, you should ask yourself the question if you need balloons at all to make a party. Balloons cannot be recycled; when they rise, they are released into the natural environment, where they cause harm, for example, by being ingested by animals. If you don’t want to do without balloons, you can inflate them with breathing air.
In addition, helium is a valuable gas that is used, for example, as a protective gas, in medicine and in research. It’s actually too bad to use for parties. If you do need it, look for helium gas in returnable cylinders.

Helium is not flammable and can be used at normal temperature not explode. However, as soon as the compressed gas cylinder is directly exposed to sunlight, the gas can heat up and lead to a dangerous increase in pressure and an explosion of the cylinder is possible.
In general, follow the instructions of the manufacturer and dealer when transporting a gas cylinder. Handle cylinders that have not been emptied with care. If present, the the fittings should be unscrewed and the steel cap of the cylinder should be properly closed. When transporting in a car, the
the bottle must lie down and be secured against rolling away.

As a rule, gas cylinders with household gas are taken back by the trade. However, this does not apply to older models in particular. In this case, gas cylinders that are no longer used should be disposed of via SDK. Long storage in basement corners and garages increases the potential danger with each passing year. Old cylinders often still contain residues of flammable propane-butane gas. Due to rust and porous seals, they can leak and the gas emitted can cause an explosion.

The preparation of the gas cylinders is carried out in cooperation with various gas suppliers by the Luxembourg company Presta-Cylinders. Cylinders that can still be used can be returned to the cylinder cycle after appropriate treatment.

The PU assembly foam cans are treated at the PDR company in D-Thurnau with maximum recovery of secondary raw materials. The cans are first crushed in the absence of air and the propellant gases are collected. These are recycled. The shredder fraction falls into a solvent bath from which the metal parts are washed out. PU recyclate can be recovered from the remaining PU solvent mixture, which is used in the production of PU foam or as an additive in industrial adhesives.

Return and recycling of used PU foam cans
In Luxembourg, approx. 180,000 PU foam cans are consumed per year in the most varied sectors of the building trade. The versatile assembly foams are just as popular with craftsmen as they are with do-it-yourselfers.

But where to put the PU foam cans after use?
As problem products, they do not belong in the residual waste or Valorlux collection, but to the SDK.

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).

Laughing gas (nitrous oxide, N₂O) is a greenhouse gas that is about 300 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Areas of application:
Medicine:
Laughing gas has been used since the 18^th century for the treatment of pain. In Germany, conversely, the method was only introduced into obstetrics in 2008 and its use is not yet widespread. The gentle pain reliever is a mixture of 50 % laughing gas and 50 % oxygen. Whereas the patient is in a state of deep sleep during treatment under general anaesthetic, he or she is fully conscious during treatment with laughing gas. The advantage of this is that doctor and patient can communicate with each other.

Laughing gas does not fall under the Narcotics Act or the Medicines Act or the law on new psychoactive substances. Consumption is also not prohibited.

Confectioners/amateur bakers:
The agitation method is hardly suitable for manufacturing whipped cream on an industrial scale. It is quicker and easier with laughing gas. Higher volume and a longer storage life are guaranteed. One 615 g disposable N₂O container = 70 conventional cream cartridges.

Laughing gas parties:
In the young adults group, laughing gas is the third most frequently consumed drug after cannabis and ecstasy, because it triggers a short euphoric kick.

The effect of laughing gas kicks in 30 seconds after inhalation and lasts for up to four minutes. Laughing gas is not detectable in the blood and is fully excreted from the organism after about one hour.

Since the lockdown, laughing gas cartridges have been found again and again on car parks and in parks or playgrounds in Luxembourg. The responsible municipal services then took the cartridges to the Resources Center.