Old pool chemicals proper disposal?

[Steve V]

Not gonna just take these to the dump. I have a tub of pool/spa chemicals/baquisl stuff that came with the house 4 years ago. Since I found this site and BBB I don't need these.

[PoolDoc]

Careful! Some pool chemicals are significantly illegal to put in a dump. If you don't get caught, you don't get caught. But some pool chemicals will burn or even explode when they come into contact with various sorts of other garbage. I don't get explicit about that, because if I do, somebody will take it and use if for a recipe, which is not so good.

If you'll list -- exactly -- what you have, I can probably make recommendations for safe disposal. Some of the stuff, you may even be able to use.

It would be helpful if you listed your pool size and type, too, since that will determine to some degree which chemicals are potentially useful to you.

One further caution: if there are any chlorine materials, do this:

1. Put on safety glasses (or at least, sunglasses) and gloves.

2. Get a broom or shovel, reverse it, hold your breath, line up so you can whack the side of the container with the handle, turn your head away, and then WHACK it.

Why? Some chlorine compounds generate droplets of nitrogen trichloride on the sides of container. NCl3 is a weak, but shock-sensitive explosive. If you move the bucket without whacking, the lid may blow off in your face, giving you a snootful of really unpleasant and even poisonous gases! (Yes, this happened to me. Once.)

3. Take it outside, position yourself upwind, hold your breath and THEN open it. NEVER open old chlorine containers inside. 4 year old chlorine materials WILL have accumulated chlorine gas in the container.