Can You Use Expired Hand Sanitizer?
Old or expired hand sanitizer is no longer effective enough to kill germs and bacteria. The ethanol and isopropyl alcohol in hand sanitizer make it a hazardous good because it is ignitable. Old hand sanitizer is considered household hazardous waste if you have it in your home and must be disposed of according to state or local regulations. If you have expired sanitizer at your business or workplace, you must be careful to be compliant with disposal and recycling regulations. In this article, we’ll cover proper disposal options for expired hand sanitizer.
Do Hand Sanitizers Really Expire?
Usually, hand sanitizer lasts two to three years. The alcohol present in the sanitizer evaporates over time when exposed to air. Since hand sanitizer containers aren’t completely airtight, evaporation occurs, decreasing the active ingredient level and making it less effective as a disinfectant. Manufacturers estimate the life expectancy of hand sanitizer based on the percentage of active ingredients to determine an expiration date.
How to Identify Expired Hand Sanitizer?
The three major factors that identify your expired hand sanitizer are:
1. Smell
When your hand sanitizer expires, the smell will change. It may remind you of tequila or rotten garbage. A strong, unpleasant smell is a sign that you should replace it.
2. Texture
If your hand sanitizer is thicker or more liquid than usual, it’s probably because it has already expired.
3. Expiration Date
To determine whether your hand sanitizer has expired, you can simply check the expiration date on the container or packaging.
If the smell and texture of your hand sanitizer have not changed, even after the expiration date, it may be safe to use, but it will not be as effective. After expiration, sanitizers’ strength and active ingredients diminish, which means that it may not thoroughly kill germs and bacteria.
Expired Hand Sanitizer and Hazardous Waste
Is expired hand sanitizer considered hazardous waste? Yes, your expired hand sanitizers are considered hazardous waste because they contain at least 60% alcohol. While some hazardous household waste can be disposed of regularly if it is solid, liquids like hand sanitizer must be disposed of more carefully.
If you’re disposing of expired hand sanitizer, you need to follow disposal regulations. This means that the following disposal methods are not accepted:
- Pouring your expired hand sanitizer down the drain.
- Mixing it with other regular trash.
- Discarding expired hand sanitizer at household waste collection sites.
What To Do With Expired Hand Sanitizer?
If you’re wondering what to do with your expired hand sanitizer, here’s a quick solution! You can easily dispose of it by contacting a reliable disposal service provider. They’ll dispose of it according to legal rules and regulations.
Donating expired hand sanitizer is not a safe disposal option. It will be less effective and will not provide adequate protection against bacteria. Additionally, it may cause skin irritation or other health risks.
How to Dispose of Old Hand Sanitizer Safely in the Workplace?
You should systematically dispose of hand sanitizer to reduce its negative impact on the environment and to avoid any health risks. As a business, it’s important to follow the disposal guidelines to avoid penalties and fines.
Here’s a step-by-step process to dispose of expired hand sanitizer safely:
Step 1: Contact a Reliable Service Provider
Contact a reliable and trustworthy service provider who will collect and dispose of your hazardous waste, following all rules and regulations.
Step 2: Place your Hand Sanitizer in a Container
Purchase durable, leak-proof containers to store old hand sanitizer. Then, place all of your expired hand sanitizer in containers, following your service provider’s guidelines.
Step 3: Store the Container
We suggest you store your container away from the reach of your children and pets. It’s important to store your containers properly, following any state guidelines.
Step 4: Hazardous Waste Collection and Transportation
Your service provider will collect the hazardous waste weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or annually as per your selected pickup frequencies. They’ll make sure that your disposal is safe and compliant, so you won’t have to worry about any health risks or following regulations.
Can Expired Hand Sanitizer Be Recycled?
Yes, expired hand sanitizers can be recycled. In fact, businesses are encouraged to recycle old hand sanitizer wherever possible. Your waste management service provider will know the proper regulations and facilities for recycling hand sanitizer safely and according to regulations.
Where Can You Get Help With the Safe Disposal of Expired Hand Sanitizers?
Specific Waste Industries is a professional and reliable waste management service provider. We provide cost-effective, efficient disposal solutions for your business or workplace. Our team has over 30 years of experience in safely handling hazardous waste with unparalleled expertise and 100% customer satisfaction.
Our waste management solutions include:
- Clean and safe transportation
- Skilled and professional team
- Tailored waste management plans
- Cost-effective disposal methods
- Reliable pickup schedules
Book our service and leave the rest to us. We’ll dispose of your expired hand sanitizers according to all state and local rules and regulations. Contact us today for safe and secure expired hand sanitizer disposal.
Conclusion
It’s essential to dispose of expired hand sanitizers to protect the environment and public health. If you don’t follow the rules and regulations when disposing of hazardous waste, your business could be penalized. For convenient disposal that maintains safety, it’s best to contact a reliable disposal service provider. We can also help you properly dispose of old gasoline and fluorescent lamps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, it’s better if you don’t donate any expired hand sanitizer. Your expired sanitizers aren’t effective enough to kill germs on your hands. Also, they may cause skin issues like redness, discoloration, and flaking.
No, it’s not safe to use expired hand sanitizer, as the alcohol content decreases over time. Therefore, your hand sanitizers won’t be effective enough to kill the germs present in your hands. To make sure that you don’t have to use any expired hand sanitizer, check the expiration date while purchasing it.
You can dispose of your expired hand sanitizer either through recycling or hazardous waste disposal. However, whether you’re recycling or disposing, make sure that you follow the local rules and regulations. Make sure that you seal the sanitizer properly while disposing of it in a container to prevent any kind of leakage.
To get rid of expired hand sanitizer, you can schedule waste disposal service with a reliable service provider like Specific Waste Industries. Once you book the service, you can leave everything to us. We follow local and state rules to provide safe, efficient disposal.