Ethanol Disposal
Waste ethanol, denatured alcohol and ethanol gel are flammable and must be collected as hazardous waste. We remove ethanol from laboratories, universities, distilleries, hospitals and manufacturing sites nationwide.
How we handle waste ethanol
Ethanol is a flammable liquid with a low flash point. Even dilute solutions can remain flammable, and ethanol contaminated with other reagents may pick up additional hazard properties, so the container should be labelled with the full mixture rather than just the main constituent.
Bulk quantities are collected in drums or IBCs and, where the quality allows, recovered for reuse as a solvent or as a fuel blend. Small pack laboratory ethanol is packed into UN approved outer boxes with absorbent for transport.
Ethanol gels, sanitiser stock and out of date alcohol based products are handled the same way. If you hold large volumes of surplus sanitiser, see our hand sanitiser disposal service for tanker and pallet scale collections.
Frequently asked questions
Is waste ethanol classed as hazardous?
Yes. Ethanol is flammable, so waste ethanol and ethanol mixtures are hazardous waste and require a consignment note for every movement off site.
Can waste ethanol be recycled?
Often, yes. Clean or lightly contaminated ethanol can be distilled and recovered. Heavily contaminated ethanol is sent for energy recovery instead.
More named chemical disposal pages
Nationwide hazardous waste collection, wherever your site is
From a single drum in a lock up to a full site clearance, we collect across England, Scotland and Wales with the paperwork handled for you.