Eastman Kodak recycles expired hand sanitiser produced during pandemic
New York State has entered into an agreement with Eastman Kodak to help it dispose of a huge glut of out-of-code hand sanitiser.
The product was manufactured by prison inmates at three US state correctional facilities in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. NYS Clean hand sanitiser was produced and distributed at no cost to the consumer.
But following massive over-production, much of it is now past its sell-by date.
Sanitisers generally last between two and three years before expiry because some of the alcohol evaporates over time, making the product less effective.
The fact hand sanitiser is highly flammable means it has to be stored outdoors to meet fire code regulations around 700,000 gallons occupying 4,000 pallets has therefore been housed under tarpaulins
Eastman Kodak has now agreed to transport the 168 trailer loads of sanitiser where it will distil it to extract the isopropyl alcohol for reuse in manufacturing.
The process is expected to take about 10 months
New York State is said to have paid $1.4 million to Eastman Kodak for the isopropyl alcohol used in the production of the sanitiser, It will now have to pay the same company $2.3 million to dispose of it.
FAQ’s
How should you store hand sanitiser ?
Ensure you follow the regulations related to your country with regard to the storage of hand sanitiser. Store it in a secure, well ventilated location that does not experience extremely hot temperatures. Do not store above 40.5°C. Keep it out of reach of unauthorised personnel, children and pets.
Is hand sanitiser flammable?
Yes it is flammable. Store it away from all heat or flames. Allow your hands to completely dry before carrying out activities that involves heat, static electricity, sparks or open flames. This minimises your chances of becoming injured from vapour ignition.
Clean up hand sanitizer spillages immediately to stop it from becoming a fire hazard.
What is the expiration date on hand sanitiser?
Dispose of a hand sanitiser as soon after its expiration date as possible as it will be no longer effective at fighting bacteria and germs. This is due to the alcohol content evaporating off. Where a hand sanitiser does not have a visible expiration date, dispose of it 3 years after purchase.