Among the famous accessories used to produce flames around the world, disposable lighter is among them. The lighters are preferred due to how convenient they are to use yet portable. Even with the variety of uses accompanying it, when the lighter fluid empties it becomes ready to be disposed of. However, due to differing in understanding the right way they should be disposed of, you may end up accumulating so much. So how to dispose of lighters? Below, we are going to read more in-depth information on how to dispose of the disposable lighter the right way.
How to dispose of lighters?
When you realize that your lighter is almost out of the lighter fluid, the thought which comes up is chunking it away as it will be of no use anymore. However, when it comes to disposing of a lighter, you have to dispose of it properly, otherwise, it will have some major consequences.
When you dispose of it in the right manner you will be conserving part of the environment while saving the lives of the organism. Let’s go through how to dispose of the disposable lighters.
1. If permitted by the law, cast it in the garbage
The local sanitation or waste management department can come up with regulations to determine how to dispose of waste and trash to save the environment. Therefore, in some areas throwing lighters in the trash might be prohibited while others may not be. Find out if you are required to throw out the disposable lighter in the trash.
2. Empty the lighter by burning the excess fuel
When you are disposing of a lighter you have to ensure that you have exhausted all the lighter fluid inside. This exercise should be done outdoors in a safe area far away from flammable materials. Preferably 1.2 meters away/ 4 feet. Turning the lights on will ensure that all the fuel left in the lighter is discarded and used up completely.
The process may take from 2 seconds to 10 minutes depending on how much fuel was left. Afterward, you can toss the disposable lighter in the trash bin.
3. Take your lighter to the household hazardous waste site
In the case where the laws and regulation of the local sanitation or waste management department do not allow dumping them in the trash, take them to the required site. These sites are called household hazardous waste management, they know the ideal way to dispose of them. It is a rule because disposable lighters can interfere with other items in the landfills when they are being processed.
To know the exact location you can find the HHW, search online for a waste management disposal site near your vicinity. Some are equipped with a search engine on their website which enables you easy access to the services with a hassle. Then, take your lighter for disposal to the site where you drop it off at the clerk beside the desk. It will be passed to the proper department that will destroy it appropriately.
4. Ways to reuse disposable lighters
After you exhaust the lighter fluid in the lighter, you tend to throw it around the house and buy another one. After a while when cleaning, you might find that you have loads of lighters and without any idea where to take them. However, no need to worry as there are things you can do to reuse them. Below are ways to reuse disposable lighters.
5. Make motorbike toys
At one point or another, you might have desired to own motorbike toys. However, you had to buy them. On the contrary, you don’t have to spend resources such as plastics, money and time just access the toy. With a disposable lighter, you can build yourself a pretty little motorcycle.
6. Creation of rings
From the graveyard of old disposable lighters, you can come up with colorful rings. This is where you apply some creativity and come up with bright, blocky, and trending colorful rings. The accessories are to be used in the fashion collection. You just require some crafting skills and you are good to go.
7. Refill your disposable lighter
Though it might seem impossible to refill a disposable lighter it can happen. What you need to do is carefully remove the top of the lighter by using needle-nosed pliers. The tool gives you a good grip while preserving the components. Then pour the lighter fluid in the lighter thus ability to reuse it again. When refilling, ensure that the area is well-ventilated or outdoor.
8. Making a lamp
Though the lighter may not seem of use anymore, the collection of disposable clear lighter may come in hand. By making a series of clear lighters with the same color, you can string them together making a jeweled rainbow. Connecting bulbs in between them make them produce stunning light, thus adding texture and imagination to a room.
Due to how complex the project might be, consult the electrician to certify that wiring and electrical code is safe,
9. Jewelry collection
It’s not a good image having a collection of lighters accumulating dust in your house. Instead, with them, you can create different beautiful earrings for different lifestyles. Just take the old lighter that isn’t used anymore or that which does not work and keep the vintage beauties functional in great ways.
10. Bottle top opener
Don’t leave it lying in the sitting room because you lack its use anymore. If you are not a fanatic of crafting, you can use the lighter as a bottle top opener. The most preferable is flat-sided rather than curved. Tightly grip the bottle you are holding by the neck and the thump is towards the cap.
Place the lighter under the cap and place the base of the lighter to wedge the traction of the cap finally popping it out. Don’t hassle for a bottle opener while you have lighter around you, pop your favorite bottle of beer or coke conveniently.
11. Use it as a secret container
The lighter can be transformed into a secret container where you can hide your valued items such as keys, money, meds, or anything else where other people will perceive it as toting a regular lighter.
Can you recycle the lighters?
As easy as it may sound, recycling isn’t always a walk in the park. Due to numerous codes, symbols, and rules, it might be troublesome to recycle some things like lighters. Unlike other products out there, lighters are hard to recycle.
Lighters are made up of plastic, metals, and fuel, or a kind of as. Having these varieties of materials may be overwhelming and a real nightmare when trying to sort them differently and recycle them as they should be.
Besides, the material which makes up the lighters is said to pose dangers to the environment. Most importantly, throwing a lighter for recycling in tow with other products while the lighter fluid is not yet exhausted is dangerous.
Since the lighter fluid is made up of harmful chemicals, the release may deter recycling making it harder. Or it may contaminate other products that would have been recycled. It is way important to dispose of the lighters in the household hazardous waste site, it will destroy the lighter appropriately.
Steps to recycle the lighter
1. Have the determination to ensure that the lighters can be disposed of
At this point, individuals have to take extra measures to undertake this activity. It begins with the disassembly of all the parts of the lighter each part to another. It is critical to note that you can attempt recycling the spent lighters which are absent of any fluid.
The lighters have a variety of components that makes them functional including the ignite which creates a spark to ignite a flame, a metal hood, and a retainer. In addition to the hump wheel, metal valve, springs made of steel and plastic body, and other components.
2. Find a metal recycling facility to dispose of lighters
After separating each component from the other carefully, you can look up a metal recycling facility where you can take all your metal products to be recycled. In certain regions is a special facility where specifically deals with recycling metal. In the parts of the body, different companies use a variety of plastic to make the body.
3. Chemical analysis
Identify a local municipal or county recycling system and enquire if the components are recyclable. The flint-like igniter elements are difficult to recycle as you need chemical analysis, which is difficult to recommend without apprehension. Those people devoid of information should throw them in regular refuse.
Although some individuals may deem recycling disposable lighters as the best way to go, it is still not recommended. Despite the process being tiresome and consuming so many resources, there is also the possibility of polluting the environment if not done carefully. Therefore, under all circumstances either take them in HHW or reuse them creatively at home.
Is it safe to throw lighters in the trash?
This has been a conflicting matter where some deem it safe to throw in the trash while the others they should not be thrown to the trash at all. Those who support the idea of turning lighters into trash being safe to have their reason that the lighter should be fully spent and to make sure no fluid or gas is left on the inside.
To safely dispose of the disposable lighter in the trash, you have to ensure that all gas and fluid are burned up. The best way to make sure of it is to ensure that is to hold down the button and if there is any left, you will hear all the is coming out with hissing voice.
Secondly, is by taking the lighter apart. This involves taking down the flint and metal and throwing them separately. By doing this you are assured that the light cannot accidentally reignite, be reused, or be found in the trash.
If the above measures are not taken, it is not safe to throw a lighter in the trash. In case even a little fluid or gas is left in the lighter, it runs the risk of igniting which would cause a fire tragedy. Besides, others argue that throwing the lighter in a solid container in a place that gets hot or has direct sunlight, may cause the gas to ignite.
Also, the kids or animals who would run through the trash may be harmed by the lighter, thus trashing them is not recommended. Look for the best recommendable way of disposing of your lighter but keep in mind the safety of your environment.
FAQs
1. What can you do with old lighters?
Instead of letting the old lighter accumulate around your house without having any use for them, you can dispose of them correctly as recommended by the waste management department or local sanitation around your area or reuse them. Besides disposing of it, you can find the versatility of a disposable lighter in your place. You can make toys, jewelry, stunning lamps, etc.
2. What happens if you throw a lighter in the fire?
A lighter is made of dangerous gases like butane. The gases tend to explode when exposed to heat. Therefore, when the lighter is thrown into the fire and butane reaches a high temperature before the plastic does, it will explode. However, when the plastic catches fire and melts first, it will release the fluid in the fire which will burn with big flames.
Either way, if you throw the lighter in the fire accidentally, keep a fair distance as it may explode or burn in a huge flame posing a health risk to you.
3. Can I dump lighter fluid down the drain?
Lighter fluid is classified among the household category waste inclusive of kerosene, gasoline, etc. The lighter fluid shouldn’t be dumped down the drain since it is corrosive and can damage the pipes. Besides, it can damage aquatic life since it is made of harmful chemicals. This will lead to the destruction and death of aquatic life.
Instead of draining the fluids down to the sewerage or water sources, burn all the fluid until the container is empty and dispose of it at the nearest local household hazardous waste collection facility.
Conclusion
Dispose of lighters has multiple uses in every household around the home due to its many uses. They are inclusive of lighting candles, putting on makeup, camping among others, describing the importance of accessories. However, when the lighter fluid exhausts, many find themselves stuck with them without knowledge on how to properly dispose of them.
From reading the above information, hope you grasp much to dispose of your lighters.
Image credit: https://www.wikihow.com/Dispose-of-Lighters
