Bleach disposal

[Sundial]

So apparently stored greywater has to be bleached to minimize the biohazard it poses. However, bleach can't be taken on a plane. Are there waste facilities in Reno that will accept pure bleach, or is there a better way to deal with unused bleach? Also, what's generally the smallest bleach bottle size one can get?

[FIGJAM]

A quart.

What do you need bleach for?

[lemur]

my guess is that they are going to 'disinfect' the gray water with bleach, dump (or 'sprinkle') the graywater on the playa and then try to ditch the bleach somewhere in reno before their flight.

[delle]

Don't forget you now have friends with benefits.

This is the sort of thing that it might behoove us not to have 16 of Chez Sans-Nom.
How 'bout I take care of it, since it might be easier.

[Sundial]

That's cool. I just try to avoid asking people for things unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. The whole blah blah blah radical self-reliance thing.

[GreyCoyote]

Easy trick to kill bleach dead: add 1 cup of sodium thiosulfate per gallon of 5% bleach and the chlorine is gone in 30 seconds or less. The resulting liquid is almost completely benign (but dont drink it unless you want the most awesome case of the runs since that Mexico trip in '84).

The above is actually a 2.5x overdose, but the stuff is so cheap there just isnt any reason not to make sure its dead. Any chemical supply house will have this. Get the cheapest grade you can find in crystal form. And yes, after treatment you can dump it down any convenient drain. The chlorine is bound into chloride. Sodium chloride, ie, common table salt.

One other thought: leave liquid bleach at home and bring powdered pool shock (calcium hypochlorite). Same effect as sodium hychlorite (bleach) but easier to pack. Six shot glasses of pool shock in a gallon of water gives you about a 5% bleach solution, and you can reuse greywater for the liquid.

[lemur]

plus, you can use the sodium thiosulfate soaked in a wet rag to neutralize mustard gas.

(and to 'fix' your photographic prints and film)

[delle]

plus, you can use the sodium thiosulfate soaked in a wet rag to neutralize mustard gas.

Is there an Apocalypse Preparation Aisle at Walmart?

[theCryptofishist]

plus, you can use the sodium thiosulfate soaked in a wet rag to neutralize mustard gas.

Is there an Apocalypse Preparation Aisle at Walmart?

Redundant. Walmart is the Apocalypse.

[Ugly Dougly]

So now how do you neutralize sodium thiosulfate???

[lemur]

ive never felt the need to 'neutralize' it.

ive dumped tons of gallons of the stuff down the drain (diluted)


when i have to dispose of it.. its usually laden with silver from making prints/developing film in a wet darkroom.. so i usually toss a wad of steel wool and some aluminium foil

this causes the silver to come out of the solution.. allowing the sodium thiosulfate to be dumped..

as far as im aware it poses no real risk in itself, unless you drink it.


sodium thiosulfate is included in some shampoos/soaps.

[Sundial]

So now how do you neutralize sodium thiosulfate???

Eat a horse?

[Turtleburp]

ive never felt the need to 'neutralize' it.

ive dumped tons of gallons of the stuff down the drain (diluted)


when i have to dispose of it.. its usually laden with silver from making prints/developing film in a wet darkroom.. so i usually toss a wad of steel wool and some aluminium foil

this causes the silver to come out of the solution.. allowing the sodium thiosulfate to be dumped..

as far as im aware it poses no real risk in itself, unless you drink it.


sodium thiosulfate is included in some shampoos/soaps.

Silver down the drain?!

Sanitary sewer or storm drain?

[lemur]

uhh no.

[Major Krash]

So now how do you neutralize sodium thiosulfate???

add 1 quart of 5% bleach per cup of sodium thiosulfate to neutralize it....

[MyDearFriend]

Please. Chlorine bleach is routinely used to disinfect bathrooms. It is not a hazard for septic systems. Take it with you into a bathroom, pour it very slowly into a stream of running water, let it go down the drain.

Or, better yet, take it with you to the laundromat when you do your post-playa clothes washing. Give it to someone. Someone will need it.

[GreyCoyote]

Quick point: whatever you do, dont put the bleach down the hole in the JOTS. If they are using a formalin based septic treatment in the commodes, you may not even make it out the door. I wont bore you with the chemistry, but the simultaneous (vigorous!) evolution of formaldehyde gas and chlorine is something guaranteed to get you an expensive helicopter ride to reno, and your chances of survival are not very good.

[delle]

Good point there, GreyCoyote!!

Actually, regardless of whatever chemicals they're using... seems to me that even just the pee in there (ammonia) combined with bleach will create a gas that can give you major lung issues for the rest of your life.

[Ugly Dougly]

Might as well bring it back to Defaultia with you.