How To: Dispose of Dry Ice

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about How To: Dispose of Dry Ice and hope the blog can help you.

Safely sublimate unused dry ice to avoid frostbite, explosion, and carbon dioxide overexposure.

Solidified carbon dioxide—better known as dry ice—is commonly used to freeze food or keep it cold longer than regular ice thanks to its frigid surface temperature of -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Available at grocery stores and home centers as blocks, pellets, or flakes, dry ice can be dropped into packages and coolers, used to flash-freeze foods, or relied on as a backup should the power go out to the fridge.

But dry ice can be dangerous: Touch it with bare skin and it can induce mild to severe frostbite in a matter of seconds. What’s more, because dry ice continuously releases carbon dioxide as it sublimates (aka evaporates), the gas buildup from storage in an airtight container with the lid shut could cause an explosion, injuring people or damage property nearby. And if allowed to sublimate in a closed-off area, the carbon dioxide gas could fill the enclosed space, leading to accidental suffocation.

Most people are aware that safety measures are crucial when using dry ice, but knowing how to dispose of dry ice properly is equally important to avoid the risks mentioned above. Read on to refresh yourself on the simple yet invaluable safety tips for handling and disposing of dry ice so that you can use the refrigerant without consequence.