SINN FÉIN TD Mark Ward has called for “urgent action from government” in response to a report from The Journal Investigates on discarded nitrous oxide canisters ending up at waste facilities.

More than 160,000 canisters are ending up in waste facilities every year.

Nitrous oxide canisters are highly pressurised containers and so can’t be disposed of through normal waste streams.

The canisters can also explode if crushed or exposed to intense heat, which can cause damage to machines when being processed through the domestic waste system.

This means that workers must separate out any canisters that make their way through the waste system and specialist contractors are often required to safely dispose of the collected canisters.

A representative group told The Journal Investigates that one Irish waste facility recorded up to 120 exploding canisters over a recent two-week period.

Nitrous oxide use has been highlighted as a growing public health concern, particularly around younger people using the canisters.

The Journal Investigates has previously reported how easy it is to obtain nitrous oxide, with our investigation last year finding it for sale on Amazon and Irish classified ad sites.

Recreational use, which has surged in recent years, involves discharging gas from the canisters into a balloon before inhaling.

While the high from inhaling nitrous oxide is short-lived – lasting only for up to a minute – it can be detrimental to health.

Its usual effects can include dissociation and giddiness, while for some, headaches, dizziness or nausea.

But it can also cause devastating frostbite burns, as well as the potential for paralysis and suffocation.

Ward remarked that the report published today by The Journal Investigates “adds to the long list of evidence that this problem is getting out of hand”.

The Sinn Féin TD has legislation progressing through the Dáil which would regulate the sale of nitrous oxide for legitimate use only.

However, Ward accused the government of “shamefully delaying it by nine months until October”.

He added that he has been “given notice that it is scheduled for debate at Committee stage as soon as the delay has expired”.

“We have known for a long time that nitrous oxide is being misused, and this misuse has become more widespread,” said Ward.

“We have heard from consultants that this misuse is leading to a loss of feeling in hand and legs due to nerve damage, and in the more extreme cases, spinal cord damage.”

Ward remarked that “we are at a crisis stage, and the government has been burying their heads in the sand”.

He added: “I have asked the government if they intend to bring their own legislation.

“Shamefully, but not surprisingly, they have told me that they will not be bringing in their own measures.”

Ward noted that the EU will regulate nitrous oxide from February 2027 but added that “we do not need to wait until then, we need to act urgently to address this issue”.

“I have gift-wrapped the solution for the government, they need to start taking this seriously.”

-With additional reporting from Conor O’Carroll