How To Dispose Of Paintball CO2 Tanks?
You must learn the safe and easy way how to dispose of paintball CO2 tanks after use, and here is the safest method.
Paintball guns and markers are powered by a tank filled with pressurized air mostly CO2. These pressurized CO2 tanks help paintballs propel through the air. These tanks contain a huge amount of pressure inside them making them too dangerous.
An accidental or quick pressure release can turn a paintball CO2 tank into a projectile, which can cause some serious injuries or even death. So you must learn the safe and easy way to dispose of the paintball CO2 tanks after use. In this guide, I’ll be sharing the safest way to dispose of paintball co2 tanks.
How To Dispose CO2 Paintball Tanks?
Proper disposal of the paintball CO2 tank is crucial since there are many hazards associated with them. You can’t dispose of CO2 tanks like regular waste. The most important part of the process is draining the tanks before disposal. Even a small amount of CO2 can cause deadly accidents. So here are the steps that you should follow while disposing of the CO2 tanks.
Emptying
You should avoid puncturing or crushing the tank even if it is empty. Even a small amount of CO2 in tanks can be disastrous. There are two safe ways through which you can empty the CO2 tanks:
With the Paintball Gun
Attach the tank to the paintball gun. Do not load the paintballs in hoppers. Dry fire the gun. Continue firing until there is no CO2 left in the tanks. This is a handy and safe method to drain the trace amount of CO2 left in empty CO2 tanks.
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Manual Discharge to Dispose Of Paintball CO2 Tanks
If you are not okay with the dry firing or your gun isn’t available for some reason you can manually discharge the gas tank. The gas in the tanks is released by removing the trigger given on top of the tanks. However, you need to be careful while doing this. It is advised to wear safety gloves and goggles to prevent hand and eye injuries.
You must avoid long and close exposure to gas while emptying the CO2 tank. It is advised to use a screwdriver or any other trigger-opening tool with a long handle. It will help you do it from a distance and avoid direct exposure. Direct exposure can lead to serious eye and skin conditions like frostbite. Perform it in a well-ventilated area. Hold the trigger down using a long hand-held tool to slowly release the pressure and gas from the tank.
Recycle Or Trash
Paintball air tanks are made with recyclable materials and you keep them with other recyclable waste. However, if you don’t have access to the recycling facility, you can throw a fully discharged paintball CO2 tank with regular waste. Some states require you to dispose of the cylinder at a mobile household hazardous waste collection event or permanent collection center near you.
However, it is advised to remove the regulator before throwing it away. You need to cut it in half. You can cut it with a sharp knife or a regular saw. If you don’t have tools, you can drill one or more holes in it to prevent the illegal refilling and use of the tank.
Refilling
If your CO2 tank is not older than 5 years you may consider refilling. If a tank is holding the pressure really well, you can refill it and use it in your games. In big games, you need multiple pre-filled air tanks to save the refilling time in between the game. You can perform a hydro test to identify the strength and leakage of the tank.
In this test, the tank is filled with a liquid. It is advised to use liquid with some sort of colorant. It helps you to identify leakages. The water is filled into the tank under a specified test pressure. The pressure-holding ability of the tank is tested by shutting off the supply valve.
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If there is a pressure drop inside the tank, the tank is no longer useful for games. If it has retained 99% of the specified pressure you can refill it with gas and use it in the next few games. The test also measures strength. It is measured by the permanent deformation of the tank under a specified pressure. The average cost of hydro testing is between $60 to $70 including the shipping charges.
Wrapping Up
Paintball tanks can explode and catch fire if not disposed of properly. Due to severe environmental and terrorism risks associated with the tanks, many states have made strict disposal laws for CO2 tanks. Therefore you must dispose of your empty paintball tanks at your nearby hazard waste collection facility.
FAQs about How to Dispose Of Paintball CO2 Tanks
How do I get rid of my CO2 tank?
You need to empty your CO2 tank before disposing of it. The best way to get rid of your CO2 tanks is by disposing of them at the Hazardous waste collection facility near you. If you want to throw them with regular waste it is advised to cut them in half or drill multiple holes before throwing them in the trash.
Do paintball CO2 tanks expire?
CO2 tanks have an average life span of 15 years. However, they can expire anytime after 3 years of use. You must test the serviceability of the tanks every three to five years. Hydro testing is the best way to check the leakage, pressure-holding ability, and strength of the paintball co2 tanks.
How do you drain a paintball tank?
You can use a paintball gun or maker to drain paintball tanks. Attach the tank with a gun and do not load balls in the hopper. Then continue firing until the tank is empty. Also, you can unscrew the trigger on top of the tank using a long handheld tool like an Allen key or screwdriver to drain the CO2 tanks.