Airbag Disposal: Hazardous Waste Management Considerations

This entry explains how and why end-of-life automobile airbags are classified as automotive hazardous waste and cannot be discarded with regular waste. Q&As include:

1. How long have airbags been mandated in Canadian automobiles?
2. How and why are end-of-life automobile airbags classified as automotive hazardous waste?
3. How and why is the sodium azide in an undeployed airbag hazardous?
4. Must airbags be removed before automobiles are scrapped?
5. Are airbags easily removed from junked cars?
6. How many airbags does a late-model automobile contain?
7. Can undeployed airbags be recycled rather than destroyed and disposed of?
8. Where can you find advice about airbag disposal—and why do you need it?

How long have airbags been mandated in automobiles?

Supplemental restraint systems (airbags) have been required in all new passenger vehicles in Canada since the early 1990s, following Transport Canada regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act 9 (see source). Since then, many of these vehicles have reached the end of their useful lives, predictably ending up in vehicle dismantling facilities (aka, “scrapyards” or “auto recyclers”) for recycling. Once there, undeployed airbags present significant safety and environmental concerns that require proper management as automotive hazardous waste.

How and why are end-of-life automobile airbags classified as automotive hazardous waste?

Most airbag modules include inflators that depend on sodium azide for generating the gas that “instantly” fills the bag in the event of a crash. When an airbag is deployed, sodium azide is converted into harmless nitrogen gas by other chemicals in the inflator. For that reason, a fully deployed airbag can typically be managed as solid waste and disposed of in regular rubbish. However, in an undeployed airbag, the sodium azide remains present and therefore poses a danger (see Q.3).

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and various provincial regulations, inflator module waste containing sodium azide is classified as hazardous waste due to its toxic and reactive properties.

 How and why is the sodium azide in an undeployed airbag hazardous?

Sodium azide in isolation is toxic, dangerous to inhale, and can burn exposed skin. Mixed with water, it forms hydrazoic acid, which is also extremely toxic and can enter groundwater when proper hazardous waste management precautions are inadequate or non-existent.

Under CEPA and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR), sodium azide is classified as a Class 6.1 toxic substance.

Incidental exposure to sodium azide can occur when untrained workers dismantle vehicles in such a way as to cause the airbag suddenly to deploy. Undeployed airbag modules can also explode when exposed to the heat in an auto shredder, releasing toxic substances into the environment.

Must airbags be removed before automobiles are scrapped?

Provincial regulations vary regarding airbag disposal in Canada and automotive hazardous waste management. While there is no uniform federal policy specifically mandating airbag removal before vehicle recycling, several provinces have established their own requirements. Consider:

• British Columbia’s Environmental Management Act (BCEMA) and associated regulations require proper handling of hazardous materials, including undeployed airbags, before vehicle dismantling.
• Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act (OEPA) places responsibility on auto recyclers to manage hazardous components appropriately.
• Quebec Environmental Quality Act (QEQC) has specific guidelines respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises.

In practice, vehicle dismantlers are strongly encouraged to remove airbags before they sell scrapped vehicles to recycling centres. However, cars commonly arrive at recycling facilities with undeployed airbag modules still intact, creating environmental and safety risks.

Are airbags easily removed from junked cars?

No. They’re difficult to access, require specialized knowledge and skill to handle safely, and removing them from a vehicle is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, the propensity is not to remove them, resulting in many airbags going through the shredder. During the shredding process, they get deployed from the ensuing friction and pressure, haphazardly discharging sodium azide into the local environment—a violation of environmental protection regulations in most provinces.

How many airbags does a late-model automobile contain?

Where just two airbags were typical in a vehicle years ago—one in the steering wheel and another in the dashboard in front of the passenger seat—the number of airbags has increased substantially since the 1990s. Nowadays, there can be side-impact airbags, curtain airbags, head-protection airbags, front centre airbags, knee airbags, and more. A late-model vehicle headed for dismantling might have as many as 12 airbags requiring proper removal and disposal as inflator module waste.

Can undeployed airbags be recycled rather than destroyed and disposed of?

Perhaps ironic in the face of the hazardous waste disposal challenges they create, there is a market for undeployed airbags in good condition. When a vehicle is involved in an accident during which an airbag deploys, and that vehicle is to be repaired, the deployed airbag must be replaced to meet Transport Canada safety standards.

New airbags are prohibitively expensive, creating demand for used ones. Thus, undeployed airbags could be a saleable asset for vehicle dismantlers instead of an environmental liability requiring hazardous waste management.

Undeployed airbags come from salvaged cars that were never involved in an accident wherein the airbags deployed, allowing them to be sold as used but functional parts. Collision repair shops are the primary buyers of undeployed OEM airbags, often using them to replace damaged airbags in vehicles involved in accidents.

However, there are hindrances:

While technically safe when sourced from reputable recyclers, there are concerns about potential damage to the airbags if removed improperly from the scrapped vehicle, which could compromise their functionality.

For that reason, many insurance companies won’t cover the cost of replacing airbags with used ones, potentially limiting the market.

Additionally, provincial regulations regarding used automotive parts vary, and some jurisdictions have stricter requirements for documentation and certification of recycled safety components.

Where can you find advice about airbag disposal—and why do you need it?

Whether purposely of haplessly, you’re in dire danger of incurring significant penalties under federal and provincial regulations if you violate environmental laws & regulations. We’re talking here of  possibly millions of loonies for corporations—and possible imprisonment for individuals.

Regulatory authorities might also issue compliance orders, require environmental remediation, and pursue civil liability claims.

Companies can face additional consequences including permit revocations, operational shutdowns, and reputational damage. Both wilful violations and negligent non-compliance carry serious legal ramifications, with courts increasingly imposing deterrent sentences.

Don’t go it alone!

Hazardous Waste Experts holds all necessary permits for accepting recalled or surplus inflators and modules. We can help you with the secure storage, handling, processing, and logistics management of end-of-life airbags in compliance with federal and provincial regulations.

Thank you for reading our blog!