Adblue and the environment 13 August 2022 at 4:30PM in Praise, vent & warnings 8 replies 311 views

BACKTOBACK

So i now have a large new van that needs a 10 litre plastic container full of adblue around every 1000 miles (around every 3 weeks). I know cars due much better than this.

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Am i missing something here? Is there a genuine reason why fuel stations cant hold a large container of adblue and either sell it per litre (like fuel) or sell re-fillable containers?

powerful_Rogue

Mu local petrol station has adblue dispensed the same as fuel.

Albermarle

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Clearly there is no environmental benefit, but then again there is unlikely to be any environmental benefit from driving a diesel van around either.

As above a few stations do have adblue dispensers, but probably for most it is not worth the cost ( most diesel cars will maybe use 5 to 10 litres per year) and diesels are on their way out slowly.

Andy_L

BACKTOBACK said:

So i now have a large new van that needs a 10 litre plastic container full of adblue around every 1000 miles (around every 3 weeks). I know cars due much better than this.

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Am i missing something here? Is there a genuine reason why fuel stations cant hold a large container of adblue and either sell it per litre (like fuel) or sell re-fillable containers?

Generally it will be down to the economics. 

Robbo66

BACKTOBACK said:

So i now have a large new van that needs a 10 litre plastic container full of adblue around every 1000 miles (around every 3 weeks). I know cars due much better than this.

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Am i missing something here? Is there a genuine reason why fuel stations cant hold a large container of adblue and either sell it per litre (like fuel) or sell re-fillable containers?

The plastic container can be recycled so no need to put in general waste

Norman_Castle

BACKTOBACK said:

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

There might be an environmental cost in returning them to be reused and presumably cleaned. They're a drop in the ocean. Friends get through vast amounts of bottled water but only manage to recycle about 50% of the bottles.

In Asda, their paracetamol is supplied to the store in small plastic trays each holding about 10 boxes of boxed tablets. Absolute waste of plastic. Hopefully they get recycled but clearly it would be far better if they were simply not used.

400ixl

As mentioned, many fuel stations do exactly as you ask. The dispenser is often near the HGV pumps as these are the main users.

Will be somewhere near you that has one.

Albermarle

Robbo66 said:

BACKTOBACK said:

So i now have a large new van that needs a 10 litre plastic container full of adblue around every 1000 miles (around every 3 weeks). I know cars due much better than this.

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Am i missing something here? Is there a genuine reason why fuel stations cant hold a large container of adblue and either sell it per litre (like fuel) or sell re-fillable containers?

The plastic container can be recycled so no need to put in general waste

You are right as the plastic used is HDPE, which is the same used for plastic milk bottles and one of the easiest plastics to recycle.

MattMattMattUK

BACKTOBACK said:

So i now have a large new van that needs a 10 litre plastic container full of adblue around every 1000 miles (around every 3 weeks). I know cars due much better than this.

But what is the environmental benefit of throwing a large plastic container in the waste every few weeks?

Am i missing something here? Is there a genuine reason why fuel stations cant hold a large container of adblue and either sell it per litre (like fuel) or sell re-fillable containers?

The thing that stands out is that seems like a hell of a lot of AdBlue, are you sure the engine is working as intended?

The plastic container can be recycled and as others have said many petrol stations are now starting to dispense AdBlue from a pump.