Don't put laughing gas canisters in your bin, warns Bedford council

Discarded nitrous oxide (N₂O) canisters – otherwise known as laughing gas – are increasingly being found in collected waste, says Bedford Borough Council.

The authority says when crushed or heated, they can explode and cause injuries to staff and damage to collection vehicles and waste facilities.

Veolia – the council’s contracted waste‑treatment operator – reported more than 745 hours of plant outage and damage due to explosions linked to nitrous oxide canisters. The cost caused to these facilities since 2023 is now over £4.7 million.

Residents are asked to:

Never put nitrous oxide canisters of any size in household bins, recycling bins or bottle banks

Never leave canisters in communal bin stores, car parks, parks or on the street

Take canisters to Bedford’s Household Waste Recycling Centre, where they can be handled safely

Residents who use aerosols at home should continue to place empty aerosol cans, such as deodorants, air fresheners and polish, in their orange-lidded recycling bins.

Visit here if you’re unsure how to dispose of an item

Nitrous oxide is a Class C drug, and possession for recreational use is a criminal offence.