Disposing of Lacquer Thinner

Many of the home improvement items used to restore and renovate a home contain hazardous chemicals. These chemicals, with a few exceptions, are too dangerous to dispose of in the curbside trash bin. Lacquer thinner is one of those chemicals. It is a solvent that is used to make lacquers and gloss coatings more loose and easier to apply. Unlike lacquer and other coatings, lacquer thinner never hardens. A hazardous material that doesn’t harden would pose a problem in a landfill. Fortunately, local governments have programs in place to help you properly dispose of your lacquer thinner. With a little work and information, you can have this hazardous material out of your home, without harming the environment.

About Hazardous Waste Disposal

Special considerations are taken for materials that pose a danger to people, plants and animals. These materials seep into the soil, air and groundwater and stay there, making these things toxic for the organisms that use them to survive. To prevent contamination by these hazardous materials, local governments have designed programs to collect the materials from the public and to properly dispose of them. At the disposal facility, some wastes are neutralized to make them nontoxic, others are sealed and incinerated or carefully stored. Solvents like lacquer thinner are reclaimed. Elements of them are extracted to be reused in creating other chemicals. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2009, approximately 237,334 tons of solvents were successfully recovered from the public for recycling.

Lacquer Thinner Disposal

The best way to dispose of lacquer thinner is to treat the substance like the hazardous material it is. Find a lid for uncovered cans of thinner and seal it properly. Sometimes applying pressure with a rubber mallet around the can lid is all that you need to do. Some cans may need to be sealed with household caulk or wax. Don’t try to solder or weld the metal lid onto the container. Doing so may cause a fire, as lacquer thinner is flammable. Once you have sealed the lid, you are ready to dispose of the container, but not in the trash can.

Finding A Facility

Most cities offer special pickup or drop-off days that allow residents to get rid of their hazardous materials. The waste management pickup does so by going around town on a certain day. The waste management workers collect the materials from the curb. You may have to make an appointment. The drop-offs require you to transport the materials to a predetermined location. There, the waste disposal workers collect the sealed containers and place them in separate larger containers from shipping. The lacquer thinner is them transported to the a reclamation facility where it is processed into materials used to manufacture other solvents.

HAZMAT Transport

If you can’t schedule an appointment for a waste disposal pickup, then you must be your own HAZMAT (hazardous materials) transport. Place the sealed container into a trash bag or plastic container. The seals on the container may still leak into the bag and then into the trunk of your car. Protect the trunk by laying a plastic sheet or drop cloth in the trunk. Place the sealed and bagged lacquer thinner in on the cloth. With these precautions, any spill will not ruin your trunk. Drive carefully while transporting the thinner.

References:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hazardous Waste Recycling.

King County Washington Local Hazardous Waste Management Program. What Happens to Waste.

Anoka County Integrated Waste Management. Paint/Thinner/Solvents

Kentucky Division of Water. Paint Disposal

New York University Department of Environmental Health and Safety. Facilities Waste