Exploding nitrous oxide canisters no laughing matter for garbage collection
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Article contentVANCOUVER — Canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, sold under the guise of whip cream chargers are increasingly showing up at Metro Vancouver waste facilities, and they’re causing dangerous explosions.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe regional district says it wants people to safely dispose of the canisters, which were recently flagged for recall by Health Canada because the gas is being used as a drug.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentPaul Henderson, Metro Vancouver’s general manager of solid waste services, says the containers, some as large as three litres, have become a problem in the last few months, especially at Metro Vancouver’s waste-to-energy facility in Burnaby.Article contentArticle contentHe said the high-pressure canisters are being tossed in with the regular garbage stream, which “creates a risk to workers.”Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. 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Browse here.Article content“We’re seeing damage to the equipment at the waste energy facility that results in some loss of productivity,” he said. “The primary concern, though, is around the health and safety risks related to those explosions.”Article contentHe said recycling depots will now accept the canisters with their valves removed, or with puncture holes that confirm the canisters are no longer under pressure.Article content“They shouldn’t be disposed of in the garbage,” he said, adding that these canisters are under immense pressure compared with propane canisters and other products.Article contentHe said he’s not aware of any injuries from the explosions yet, and the source and sudden prevalence of the canisters is unknown.Article content“It’s hard to imagine the amount of whipped cream you need to make in order to use a three litre cylinder of nitrous oxide,” he said.Article contentMetro Vancouver invited reporters to a facility in Coquitlam Friday to raise awareness about the canisters, less than a month after Health Canada issued a warning to consumers about the recreational use of nitrous oxide.Article contentArticle contentHealth Canada said nitrous oxide is commonly known as laughing gas or whippets, and it outlined several consumer products seized with the help of the Canada Border Services Agency.Article contentHealth Canada said recreational nitrous oxide products are deceptively sold under different brand names, including “Bamboozle,” “Primewhip” and “GreatWhip Max Cream Charger,” and include unpermitted flavoured gases.Article contentOnline searches show the products are widely available at vape and smoke shops, and Health Canada said they have not been reviewed for safety and are sold “in stores you would not expect to find whipped cream chargers (and) in large containers you would not expect for dispensing whipped cream.”Article contentHenderson said facilities in Europe have also had troubles with nitrous oxide canisters, and they’re showing up in some loads on a “large scale.”Article content“We had one load come into one of our facilities,” he said. “We found 15 of these cylinders, distributed within the load.”Article contentHealth Canada’s recent crackdown, he said, has seen the prevalence reduced in Metro Vancouver, and he has also sent a letter to the federal body for “written confirmation that the sale of these products is not lawful.”Article contentThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025Article contentTrending CRA penalized taxpayer for repeated failure to report income Personal Finance Howard Levitt: Why remote workers keep winning in employment law disputes Work 'Why let one person in the States change your life?' 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