Chlorine tablets are solid pool chemicals. These tablets are used to clean swimming pools by removing the bacteria from them.
These are not the same as liquid chlorine. So, you will have to dispose of these tablets after they lose their effectiveness.
Chlorine tablets can be dangerous to the environment, wildlife, and people if it is not disposed of properly. Thus, this guide will provide details on how to dispose of chlorine tablets.
Step 1. Understand the Effects Chlorine Tablets Can Have
It’s best to educate yourself on the effects chlorine can have on the environment.
As a result, you can make sure to consider every factor when disposing of these tablets.
Chlorine Tablets Are Reactive and Corrosive
Like other pool chemicals, chlorine tablets are reactive and corrosive.
Therefore, these properties can make them responsible for fires.
Chlorine Tablets Can Cause Fires and Explosions
Some of these fires can originate within a garbage truck while the tablet is being transported in the trash.
As a result of that, the fires may result in explosions, which can be catastrophic, depending on the number of chlorine tablets.
This could pose a serious risk to the lives of sanitation workers and other people and wildlife near the disposed of materials.
Chlorine Tablets Can Cause Skin Irritation
Chlorine tablets are corrosive. Therefore, old tablets can cause skin irritation to those who come in contact with it.
This symptom will most likely affect sanitation workers or animals if you throw the chlorine tablets in the trash.
Chlorine Tablets May Release Poison Gas
Improper disposal of chlorine tablets can release poisonous gas. Thus, this can cause wildlife and sanitation workers to get sick.
So, you should not dispose of chlorine tablets in your household trash.
You should also avoid putting chlorine tablets into recycling. Instead, you should follow the procedure mentioned below.
Chlorine Tablets Can Contaminate Groundwater and Soil
Disposing of chlorine tablets in landfills can contaminate groundwater and soil. That, in turn, can cause harm to wildlife in the area.
It’s helpful to keep these effects in mind when disposing of chlorine tablets.
It can serve as a reminder of how integral it is to get the disposal right because of what is at stake.
Step 2. Get in Touch With Your Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility
Get in touch with your household hazardous waste management facility for disposing of chlorine tablets. The facility will provide you with specific instructions on the disposal process.
Follow the Specific Guidelines the Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility Provides
Depending on your local or state laws, there may be some specific rules and protocols for disposing of pool chemicals.
Make sure to follow those guidelines to ensure you don’t go against any laws or pose a risk to others around you.
Failure to follow lawful procedure could result in legal penalties. It could also mean that you would spend time, money, and effort on attorney fees and handling the vase.
Step 3. Transfer the Chlorine Tablets into a Container for Disposal
Begin the disposal process after learning and understanding the guidelines according to local and state laws.
Wear a pair of gloves when handling the tablets and transferring them to an appropriate container.
Moreover, you should wear a dust mask for this process to limit inhaling any gases that may release.
Use a Plastic Sealable Bag or a Hazardous Waste Container
You should use a plastic sealable bag or a hazardous waste container to dispose of and store the old chlorine tablets.
A sealable bag will ensure that none of the contents get out.
At the same time, you could consider a hazardous waste container. These containers are readily available and relatively inexpensive.
The containers have a lid that fits securely to seal the contents within.
Transfer the Chlorine Tablets and Label the Container
Transfer the chlorine tablets into the container of your choice. The gloves will prevent it from getting onto your skin.
After transferring the chlorine tablets into the plastic bag, seal it. Next, place the bag with the content into another plastic bag and seal that as well.
This way, you won’t risk accidental exposure to the chemical during transportation.
If you’re using the hazardous waste container, make sure to close the lid tightly.
In addition to that, regardless of what container you use, make sure to clearly label it as hazardous waste. The label will notify any person that handles it to proceed with caution.
Store the Container Safely Until You Get Rid of It
It’s important to store the container safely until you get rid of it. You should make sure to keep the container in a space that has a consistent temperature.
The ideal temperature range for storing the container and other pool chemicals is 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
The tight sealing on the container will ensure no animal gets into it.
Step 4. Contact Your Local Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility for Pick-Up
After the chlorine tablets are secure, you should arrange a pick-up with your local household hazardous waste management facility.
All you have to do is head to the facility and hand over the contents. The facility will then take care of the disposal for you.
Step 5. Contact Your Local Pool Store if the Household Hazardous Waste Management Facility is Unavailable
In some cases, a household hazardous waste management facility is not present in your city or may be too far out of the way.
In that situation, you can dispose of chlorine tablets at your local pool store. Many of these stores have access to proper disposal machinery.
Therefore, they accept junk chlorine from clients for disposal.
You can also use this as an opportunity to ask the store clerk for advice on chlorine tablet disposal.
They will be able to provide you with information that you may not learn from other sources. This is due to their first-hand experience.
Step 6. Contact Your Local Community Pool if the Pool Store Won’t Entertain You
There’s a chance that your local pool store may refuse to collect your old chlorine tablets. In that case, you can turn to your local community pool.
Your community pool will be disposing of pool chemicals often. Therefore, they most likely won’t mind disposing of a few extra chlorine tablets.
What to Keep in Mind About Local Pool Stores and Community Pools
Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re disposing of chlorine tablets at local pool stores and community pools.
Local Pool Stores or Community Pools May Not Follow Proper Disposal Procedures
Local pool stores and community pools likely follow appropriate disposal procedures for chlorine tablets.
However, there is no guarantee that they do. Therefore, it’s best to rely on a household hazardous waste management facility instead.
It can mean saving the life of an animal or a person.
If you have doubts about a specific store or pool, ask your neighbor if they know about places that dispose of pool chemicals properly.
Moreover, your tax dollars are used in household hazardous waste management facilities.
Therefore, it’s best to take advantage of the services such facilities provide.
Also, the relatively long life span of chlorine tablets means that you won’t have to dispose of them often.
So, it’s best to make the effort of transporting the materials to a household hazardous waste management facility over other options.
Clearly Inform the Local Pool Store or Community Pool Representative about Disposal
Clearly inform your local pool store or community pool representative that the tablets are expired. You should make it clear that you brought them for disposal.
Therefore, the store or pool will not reuse or sell expired tablets. It’s always best to be clear about it so that no one’s lives are put at risk because of miscommunication.
How Long Can Chlorine Tablets Last?
Solid pool chemicals typically last longer than liquid ones. Therefore, chlorine tablets can last anywhere between 3 and 5 years if you store them properly.
Until you use these tablets for your pool, you should keep them in a container with a secure lid.
The lid will ensure the contents are not exposed to the air and that animals don’t have access to them.
At the same time, you should also store the chlorine tablets in a room with a consistent temperature. The ideal temperature is the same as mentioned above.
Last Few Words
This article outlined three places that you can dispose of chlorine tablets.
However, your first option should always be to hand the pool chemicals to your local household hazardous waste management facility.
These are government facilities, so they will ensure that proper and lawful disposal procedures are practiced. Thus, the disposal will have little to no effect on the environment, wildlife, and people.
If you have more pool chemicals to dispose of, you can follow the same steps for those materials too.
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