Nitrous oxide canisters have been exploding in United Kingdom waste facilities, creating unsafe working environments for staff members, the BBC reported.
What's happening?
The emptied canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, have been damaging energy-to-waste plants. They usually come from recreational users who put them out with other household trash for collection.
Nitrous oxide is illegal for recreational use in England and Wales as of November 2023. It's still used legally in some medicines and in food production, such as whipped cream.
"We've seen a shift from people using small canisters to much larger ones holding 600, 700 grams [1.5 pounds] of nitrous oxide, which become a ticking time bomb when they're disposed of and find their way into our waste and recycling facilities," John Scanlon, chair of the Environmental Services Association, told the BBC.
Why are nitrous oxide canisters concerning?
The frequency of nitrous oxide canister explosions has been especially alarming.
"At our facility in southeast London, we've had 2,300 explosions in 2025," said Nicola Henshaw, managing director for hazardous waste at resource management company Veolia, per the BBC. "At our Newhaven facility, we've had 200 explosions."
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Besides the threat to workers, Henshaw also warned that the public could be at risk if they're near garbage trucks with improperly disposed of canisters. Nitrous oxide can even contribute to rising temperatures around the globe.
People who use nitrous oxide recreationally are at risk as well. The BBC stated in another piece that heavy use of nitrous oxide can lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can damage a person's spine or other parts of their nervous system.
Zeshan, 28, formerly used nitrous oxide. He spoke to the BBC about how nitrous oxide is especially popular among and harmful to young people.
"I feel it's still happening but it's more hidden now — a lot of people I know are still using it," he said.
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What's being done about nitrous oxide canisters?
In terms of responsible disposal, Veolia advocates for people to bring canisters to household waste recycling centers. This allows the canisters to be recycled safely and minimizes their threat to workers.
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$200 or more 💰 The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs called for better education and awareness, especially among young people, of nitrous oxide's effects.
N2O Know the Risks is one such awareness campaign running at Queen Mary University of London. It runs community workshops for teenagers about nitrous oxide, raises awareness, and provides training on nitrous oxide treatment and intervention.
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