Despite its colourful name, AdBlue is a clear fluid used to decrease the amount of diesel engines’ harmful emissions being emitted into the atmosphere. The solution consists of a mixture of urea and deionized water and is a non-toxic, colourless, odourless, and non-flammable substance. 

Adblue plays a fundamental part in preserving our precious planet whilst helping to meet emission targets. So when it comes to recycling an empty Adblue container, extra care and attention are needed to ensure that you are recycling the packaging wherever possible; this makes sure your efforts to be more conscious and sustainable do not go to waste.

On a small-scale, Adblue is commonly stored within 10 or 20 litre containers , which for the most part, means that the packaging can be fully recycled once the Adblue fluid has been used up. It is critical that before recycling, you take the time to empty each container correctly, as failing to do so can result in a lot of pollution, which will have detrimental effects on our environment, wildlife and ecosystems.  

But that’s not all…Recycling empty Adblue containers responsibly is simple and has many other important benefits, including:

  • Conserving as many natural and organic resources as possible
  • It saves copious amounts of energy, time, and money
  • It helps us to be more sustainable and create new products from recycled materials
  • It supports in helping to keep our landfills clean
  • It protects and preserves our oceans and marine life
  • It heavily reduces the amount of waste that goes to incinerators

Empty the Adblue container before recycling

It is vital to empty any Adblue containers prior to recycling them. To do this safely, make sure that you seek advice, take any necessary precautions, and do this task according to the recommended guidelines. Taking extra care will ensure the wellbeing of yourself and others around you. It is also imperative that you protect your skin by wearing gloves when attempting to empty an Adblue container; this will help avoid any remaining fluid coming into contact with your skin. However, if you do come into contact with any leftover solution, stay calm and wash the affected area immediately, with clean and soapy water.

Recycling your empty Adblue container yourself is simple

To recycle your empty Adblue container properly, you will need to follow these simple steps and remember to seek advice if you need it.

  • Firstly, carefully remove the cap from the container and thoroughly dispose of any leftover Adblue liquid.
  • Rinse out the container numerous times with clean water until all the Adblue fluid remnants are gone.
  • Recycle the container according to your local recycling guidelines. In most cases, the empty Adblue packaging can go into your plastic bin for local refuse collection.

Drop off your Adblue containers for safe recycling

If your time and resources are limited, you also have the convenient option of finding out where your closest recycling centre is and dropping the Adblue container off; a quick Google search will enable you to locate the nearest recycling facility. These establishments will ensure that your Adblue container is emptied and recycled as responsibly as possible and, of course, in accordance with proper guidelines. This type of drop off service gives you the confidence that the correct recycling process has been carried out, and as a result, you have played your part in protecting the environment as much as possible.

Transport operators using large quantities of AdBlue can invest in robust AdBlue storage and dispensing tanks. Our Adblue tanks are available in capacities from 1,350L to 15,000L and offer many advantages over containers or IBCs. The greater storage capacity allows users to bulk-buy at cheaper rates while prices are low while the dispensing equipment and bunded construction make dispensing quicker, cleaner, and safer. 

Our AdBlue tanks are manufactured using a recyclable polymer so can also be disposed of or repurposed in an environmentally-considerate manner. However, with a design life in excess of 20 years and a 10 year warranty, it will likely be a long time before disposal is necessary.

We hope this helps make it more straightforward why recycling your empty Adblue containers is so important. If you have any concerns about the best practices to ensure your safety and that your Adblue containers are recycled responsibly, we can help. Please get in touch to discuss any questions you may have.

In the meantime, thanks for playing your part in protecting the environment.

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