Disposing of mothballs is a hassle, but important. Here you’ll find a lot of information on how to dispose of mothballs properly.
Mothballs are used for storing clothing, blankets, bedding, or other materials that could be damaged by moths.
They are an odorless alternative to moth repellents that can be stinky.
Mothballs can be used indoors and outdoors.
There are different types of mothballs with different ingredients which means their longevity is different.
Mothballs are made of paradichlorobenzene, which is a chemical used in mothballs to repel moths. This toxic chemical is primarily used for insect control and kills moths, mites, and their eggs.
To avoid any further danger, you need to know how to dispose of mothballs properly.
Note though that some areas have rules about how and when you should get rid of your garbage, so be sure to check with your local government before disposing of anything this way.
Contents
Why do you need to dispose of mothballs properly?
1. Mothballs are dangerous for humans and pets.
They can cause dizziness and respiratory problems in human.
They can cause serious illnesses including death if consumed by a pet or a child.
2. Mothballs could harm the environment
Mothballs contain dangerous chemicals. If you don’t deal with them carefully, it will give you bad effects.
They could spread harmful materials since they don’t decompose easily. It can also poison animals and birds that drink the water or eat dead fish that ingested the chemicals.
The chemical material can contaminate the soil and water sources in the area.
How to dispose of mothballs properly
1. Take them to the hazardous household waste facility
Hazardous household waste facility is a place to manage various types of hazardous materials including mothballs.
Place mothballs in a sealed container, such as plastic bags or airtight containers and take them to the hazardous household waste facility. They will handle it in environmentally way without causing any trouble.
You can also check the nearest drop off point of the hazardous household waste facility.
2. Give it away
Giving the mothball away to someone you know is one of the best options to dispose of it. Ask your friends or neighbors whether they will accept them or not.
You can also donate them to a local charity or drop them off at an eco-friendly home improvement store if you want to get rid of them in a less personal way.
3. Bring them to a local hazardous center
If you want to dispose of mothballs properly, bring them to a hazardous center.
These centers are specifically set up to accept pesticides, chemicals, paint products, batteries, appliances, and other harmful substances.
They’re not only equipped to handle these kinds of materials safely, but they’ll be happy to make sure that everything gets recycled properly.
Many facilities will provide you with a container if needed or may pick up the items from your home for free.
They know how to handle your unused mothballs and take it out of your home and into the recycling process without causing harm to anyone outdoors or indoors.
When you’re looking to dispose of mothballs, it’s best to call your local authority.
They can give you advice on the best way to go about it, and they’ll also be able to direct you toward any facilities that are nearby.
If you choose to dispose of them physically, wrap them in heavy-duty foil and throw them in the garbage.
What you should not do to dispose of mothballs
1. Do not burn them
Do not burn your mothballs.
It may be tempting because of its flammability but doing so will only release toxic fumes into the atmosphere.
The smoke they produce is harmful to your health and could even be fatal.
Avoid burning material such as laptop charger or old office chairs because it is dangerous.
2. Do not throw them carelessly them
Do not throw your used or opened mothballs into your garbage disposal unit carelessly.
These mothballs can enter the environment and cause a great threat to the world.
The mothballs will come into contact with water, and then can be transformed into toxic substances that are more dangerous than before.
They also could contaminate your town’s sewage system which could also be harmful to animals and plants that live in and around this area.
3. Do not flush it into the sink
Putting mothballs down the kitchen sink is a bad idea.
The chemicals can build up in the pipes and cause your drain to clog or even corrode the metal.
How to store mothballs
1. Put it in a tightly sealed container
If you have a mothball stored in a container, it’s important to tightly seal it. Avoid storing them in open containers or boxes
A plastic container with a lid can be used for long-term storage. If you want to store the mothballs for 1 or 2 months, use any resealable container.
Always use an airtight container to keep the mothballs away from heat and sunlight.
2. Keep it out of reach of children
If you want to store mothballs, keep it out of reach of children.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they like to play with things they find interesting—like the hard little balls!
You should make sure that your mothballs aren’t within easy reach of children at any time.
3. Store it in dry area
Always store your mothballs in dry area such as in a special cupboard.
Keeping your mothballs dry is important to to ensure that the mothballs can function properly. It is also useful for keeping the content of mothballs is maintained.
What you should do when dealing with mothballs
1. Always wear gloves
If you have contacts with mothballs, always wear gloves.
There is still a risk of accidentally getting some of the chemicals on your skin and potentially harming yourself.
It could harm you if accidentally touched.
2. Wash your hands
If you touch the mothballs, immediately wash your hands with soap and water.
It is important to make sure there is no chemical left on your hands.
Conclusion
Mothballs are a product to keep moths and other insects away.
In fact, mothballs contain some harmful chemicals that will danger you or your family.
You need to get rid of them if you don’t want to use them anymore.
This is how to dispose of mothballs in a nutshell!
- Take them to the hazardous household waste facility
- Give it away
- Bring them to a local hazardous center
- Call the local authority
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