Bedford Borough Council is urging residents not to put nitrous oxide (N₂O) “laughing gas” canisters in household waste and recycling bins, or glass bottle banks.
Discarded canisters are increasingly being found in collected waste. 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 due to explosion incidents leading to significant damage, linked to nitrous oxide canisters in its energy-from-waste facilities in 2025. The financial damage caused to these facilities since 2023 is now over £4.7 million.
Nitrous oxide canisters are pressurised metal containers used in catering, for example, to make whipped cream, but they are also commonly misused as a recreational drug. Even canisters that look empty can still contain gas under pressure and remain dangerous if placed in household waste or recycling.
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.
Councillor Nicola Gribble, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Bedford Borough Council, said: “Nitrous oxide canisters should never go in household bins or bottle banks. If they are crushed in a refuse vehicle or at a waste facility, they can explode and put our crews and local services at serious risk. We are asking residents to take them to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, or report them as litter if they are found in public places, so they can be dealt with 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.
Bedford Borough residents who are unsure how to dispose of an item can check www.bedford.gov.uk/MyBins before putting it in a bin or taking it to be recycled.
Nitrous oxide is a Class C drug, and possession for recreational use is a criminal offence. Those caught in unlawful possession can face a caution, community penalties or an unlimited fine, with tougher penalties for repeat offences or for production and supply.