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Lachgas Amsterdam
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Cylinders

Nitrous oxide cylinders: what to do if you find one

Short answer

Don’t put a nitrous oxide cylinder in a normal bin — it can explode in the waste incinerator. Don’t open or heat it. Report a cylinder in a public space via meldingen.amsterdam.nl (the city’s reporting service); residents can take empty cylinders to one of Amsterdam’s recycling points (Recyclepunten).

Lachgas Amsterdam editorial teamPublished: Last checked: Cylinders

Why it matters

Cylinders thrown into household waste end up in the incinerators of AEB, Amsterdam’s waste-to-energy company. AEB reported more frequent and louder explosions from mid-January 2023, damaging grates and boiler walls. A paid return scheme collected about 80,000 cylinders between September 2023 and February 2024, and since March 2025 cylinders are shredded in a dedicated shed — yet in 2025 AEB still reported 15 to 20 explosions a week.

What to do

  1. 01

    Leave it intact

    Don’t open, puncture or heat it.

  2. 02

    Not in the bin

    Not in household waste, recycling or bulky waste.

  3. 03

    Report it

    Report cylinders in public spaces via meldingen.amsterdam.nl. City services collect them; full cylinders are removed by city enforcement officers or the police.

  4. 04

    Or drop it off

    Residents can hand in gas cylinders free of charge at one of Amsterdam’s seven Recyclepunten (recycling points), bringing ID and proof of an Amsterdam address. Visitors: just report it.

Suspect dealing or storage? Call the police non-emergency line on 0900-8844. Emergencies: 112.

Sources

  1. 01

    Rijksoverheid

    Verbod op lachgas

    accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  2. 02

    Gemeente Amsterdam

    Melding openbare ruimte

    accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  3. 03

    Gemeente Amsterdam

    Recyclepunt voor bewoners

    accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  4. 04

    AT5

    Lachgascilinders ontploffen steeds vaker en harder in afvalverbrandingsoven

    3 March 2023accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  5. 05

    AT5

    AEB stopt na vijf maanden met innamepunt lachgas, maar liefst 80.000 cilinders ingeleverd

    14 February 2024accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  6. 06

    AT5

    Lachgascilinders vaker gedumpt in de stad na afschaffing statiegeld door AEB

    15 May 2024accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  7. 07

    NH Nieuws

    Nieuwe lachgasloods moet explosies in ovens AEB voorkomen

    3 March 2025accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

  8. 08

    NOS Nieuwsuur

    Problemen met lachgascilinders in afval nemen toe, bewoners draaien op voor kosten

    2 July 2025accessed 31 October 2026Read in full

General information, not personal legal or medical advice. In an emergency, call 112.

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