How do you dipose of your Fixer?

ToddB

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Hey guys,

I was curious.. How do most of you dispose of your tired fixer?

ToddB
 

HTF III

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shhhh.... just do it in your own way and say nothing.
 

removed account4

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hi toddb

i use it until it is exhausted,
then i remove the silver from it with a silver magnet,
then i put it through a trickle tank,
then i stick it in a 15gallon drum and have a waste hauler take it away.

see signature ...
 

Chris Lange

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I stockpile my used fixer from my home darkroom and bring it to my university twice a year to dump it into our silver recovery system. Since I'm graduating in a month though, I'll have to figure out another way to do it...can't keep bringing it to school since it's 5 hours from home.
 
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ToddB

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Hmmm.. do you think walgreens would take it? I have to level with everyone.. I've dumped it down the sink a few times.

Todd
 

Fixcinater

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jnanian said:
from what i understand porter's went out of business ..
Click to expand...

They went to online only, not closed. I ordered a bulk roll of Tmax 100 from them when they were running a special.
 

NedL

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I have a septic system at my house. I've read here on APUG that there is probably enough sulfide to bind the silver into insoluble silver sulfide and I don't doubt that but have nevertheless decided to "play it safe". I'm not a chemist, and that ignorance factors into my decision not to gamble with the groundwater my family drinks or the functioning of my septic system. I am perhaps being slightly overcautious, but it's no trouble at all, so who cares?

I've asked around at the one local film photography store and the local photography club and there are no photo labs or anyone else in the area who still take used fixer for recycling, so that's not an option where I live.

However there is a convenient hazardous waste disposal program in my county. They specifically do take used photo chemicals. They take up to 5 gallons per visit, it's drive-thru and only takes a minute, and I drive by there several times a week anyway. It's simply no trouble and I've spent more time reading/writing about fixer disposal on APUG than it actually takes to do it ( a gallon dropped off every few months ). Not much more time than it's taking me to type this post.
 

rjbuzzclick

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Like NedL above, I take it up to our local hazardous waste disposal facility every couple of months. It takes very little time, costs nothing, and I believe it's better for the environment and local water treatment plants. I would not dump it down the drain.
 
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ToddB

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I haven't done more than 2 gallons probably. But good to know. Since I've gotten back to traditional Photography, that part I forgot about. just trying to find a small portable storage container that will fit horizonal under my sink to pour into.

Todd
 

cliveh

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Down the sink.
 

tkamiya

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I use mine as salad dressing. :alien:
 

removed account4

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horacekenneth said:
I just ordered and received a silver magnet from them a couple months ago...
Click to expand...

they closed in february ... and they sold me all their overstock ...
if you call their 800# they have a machine telling you to live chat on their website
or send them an email ...
from what i was told in february they might be open online just to sell off what they have

they were around since ww1 ... kind of sad they closed ...
 

HTF III

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polyglot said:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Seriously, let's not type all the same stuff out again.
Click to expand...

I'm quite sure so. Maybe there's enough in the archives by now to not have to do this again.
 

Aristotle80

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Put some steel wool in the used fixer and let it sit for a while before you dump it. You would rather have it react with the wool than the drain pipes. Of course don't let the metallic remains go down the drain with the spent fixer. Someone told me to do this years ago, it seemed sensible.
 

Jesper

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I leave it at a recycling center about 500m from were I live.
No charge and very convenient.
 
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