In GQ there is a thread where a difference of opinion on, the most environmental sensitive method for disposing of volatile waste has been voiced, so I thought I would introduce the topic here for constructive debate, and to see if we can not at least voice the issues and perhaps reach some viable position on the issue
What we are looking for ideally is the quickest break down of the chemicals into non-toxic, chemically neutral (or at least relatively so) constituents, while minimising the effects of the chemicals on their environment in the mean time.
So far three possible systems have been considered.
Dumping
Burning
Collection (for treatment, though this is not specified)
Dumping has been taken in the context of a moving water source.
The effective breakdown of chemicals in such an environment will be governed by the speed of the river, the leaching of the river, and amount of waste introduced into the system relative to the volume of water through the system. For relatively small amounts of chemical pollutants introduced into a wide fast flowing low sediment rivers this breakdown will be effective unfortunately the environmental costs of transporting relatively small amounts of chemicals to such rivers has to also be taken into account as does the short term effect of concentrated pollutants. In general the outcome of dumping is negative especially for urbanised waste disposal.
Burning
The break down of chemicals here is proportional to the dispersion of the chemicals; this in turn is directly related to the local weather patterns and atmospheric conditions prevalent at the time of disposal. On an individual case by case analysis this is easily the most effective disposal mechanism however within the current urban environment the saturation of the local atmosphere and the cumulative effects of high numbers of individual cases being confined to limited geographical areas has severely hampered the dispersion of pollutants released in such a manner, unfortunately this leads to a double bind as the collection of waste from such environment almost always involves the burning of fuel and thus defeats the purpose unless concentrated high levels of pollutants are involved in an individual case.
Collection
The effects of this are dependent on the environmental costs of collection and treatment, this may be the solution to the overall problem however each case should be judged individually taking all of the above information into account before a decision on the appropriate method of disposal is implemented.
Individual Recycling
This case is only mentioned in passing. The treatment of the pollutant by the individual for reuse would in the case of the OP mentioned in the thread linked above, is my suggested ideal solution. Filter the old gas, mix with some new gas and the environment will probably be not much worse off than any of the above solutions and at least you will have gained something from the damage. This option is however not available in many cases but perhaps there is an opportunity to extend its availability through education.
I have severely simplified several very complicated systems in this post to save you from reading a 4000-page post. I believed I have covered most of the major factors involved but have deliberately not included some subsidiary factors such as leaching and sedimentary binding in river systems or analysis of the health costs of urbanised pollution verses rural pollution.
So feel free to weigh in with your own position.