Denatured alcohol is alcohol that has been made unsuitable for consumption but is still useful for other purposes. Denatured alcohol has several uses in homes and factories. It can be used as a household cleaner, and it can be disposed of when it no longer serves any useful purposes.
Denatured alcohol is a highly flammable chemical, and all forms of this chemical are classified as hazardous waste. These include ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, and rubbing alcohol. The best place to dispose of denatured alcohol is at hazardous waste facilities.
How to Dispose of Denatured Alcohol at Home
If you have a backyard in your house, you can also dispose of it there. We’ll show you how to go about the disposal in a safe and responsible way. It’s very important to be careful when disposing of alcohol. Here is how you’ll go about it —
- Prepare the disposal ground
Due to the highly flammable nature of denatured alcohol, you will have to keep it away from heat sources or places where you’re likely to start a fire. Any spot you choose, make sure it is free of heat, including gas pilot lights and tobacco smoke.
Also, it’s preferable if the spot you want to use is not too close to the window.
- Prepare the denatured alcohol
Once you’ve got the best spot, you’ll need a container that can contain the entire denatured alcohol. The container you choose must be leak-proof to avoid spillage.
Also, the place where you’ll be pouring the denatured alcohol must be well-ventilated. When you pour it, you must to be extra careful. It shouldn’t spill on the floor, and make sure you protect your eyes and hands. Also, try to not let it splash on your clothes or your skin.
If you’ve poured the alcohol in a container but have yet to bury it, then you’ll need to keep it in a cool, dry place. Also, keep it out of the reach of children and pets. They may be critically injured and hospitalized if they consume it.
- Get some sand
Since we are burying the alcohol, we need sand to cover it up. A bucketful of dry sand or even cat litter will do the work perfectly by soaking up the denatured alcohol.
Go for a medium-sized bucket to do the job perfectly. You’ll also need a shovel or spade to lift the sand off the ground and into the bucket. The spot where you lifted the sand can also be used as the burial spot since a deep hole will have been created.
- Pour the denatured alcohol into the sand
Pour it into the dug-out hole. Make sure you do it carefully so that it doesn’t spill on your hands or your clothes. Then use the sand in the bucket to fill up the hole in the ground.
- Seal and label the container
After you’re done pouring the alcohol out of the container into the ground, cork the container as tight as you can. You don’t want the leftover no matter how small to spill on you.
After sealing it you’ll have to label it as well. Find a sheet of paper and glue. Write ”denatured alcoholic” on the paper and stick it to the container with the glue. If you have sticky paper, you can use that instead of glue.
How to Dispose of Denatured Alcohol at a Hazardous Waste Facility
If you prefer to dispose of your denatured alcohol at a hazardous waste facility, it can be done. However, you can’t just put it in any trash because it’s wrong to dump it in a landfill this way.
To dispose of it, you’ll need to take it to an approved disposal site. You can find one in your city by searching online. You can also contact your local municipality for information on the waste disposal programs that are available in your city.
You can also contact the waste disposal company you hired for your home waste. You’ll ask them if they have a designated site for the disposal of hazardous waste material.
If you can’t make it to the waste disposal facility, there are companies offering delivery services for hazardous waste materials. You don’t have to break the bank to pay for this service. All you have to pay is a nominal fee for them to come over to your house to get and dispose of the chemical. The bigger the denatured alcohol, the more likely you’ll have to use this kind of disposal service.
Also, try checking the laws and regulations that govern the disposal of hazardous wastes in your country, state, or city.
An alternative way of disposing of your denatured alcohol is to rub it on a newspaper.
This is an unconventional way of disposing of denatured alcohol. Get an old newspaper (any sheet of paper or cardboard will work as well). Rub the denatured alcohol on it, and then leave it outside to get dry. Make sure your kids or pets do not touch it. After it has dried, squeeze the newspaper into a small size (make sure you’re wearing protection on your hands), then put it in a container and seal it. You can dispose of this in your trash can.
Precautions to take when disposing of denatured alcohol
Denatured alcohol is a highly toxic chemical that is also very flammable, so there are certain precautions you have to take to avoid accidents.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight or open fires.
- Keep it away from children and pets.
- Always put on gloves when using denatured alcohol.
- Store it in a cool dark place.
- Avoid direct contact with the skin, eyes, and face.
- Keep your room well-ventilated to avoid inhaling the fumes and only use outdoors.
This chemical is usually mixed with ethanol, so if it’s ingested it can lead to death. If by accident you mistakenly consume it, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Conclusion
When you’re using denatured alcohol or trying to dispose of it, you need to be careful so it doesn’t come in contact with your skin or household materials. It’s best if you use denatured alcohol outdoors, in a cool and dry place.
If you plan to bury it, try not to bury it in the sun. You can bury it when the sun is down.
