Volunteer litter pickers have revealed that they've recently recovered a staggering 2,217 large canisters of laughing gas from around Cardiff. Local clean-up crew Cardiff Rivers Group made the shocking admission after posting on Twitter a photo of its latest huge haul of discarded nitrous oxide containers.
"A further 172 canisters made safe and taken for recycling," they tweeted, alongside a pic of an outsized bag stuffed full of the offending items - which one neurologist has dubbed 'more dangerous than cocaine'. "This brings the total to 2,217 canisters removed by our volunteers from around the streets and parks of the capital.
"Well done and thank you to everyone who helps make a difference to where we live." The accompanying image showed multiple canisters - much larger than the often-seen silver ones known as 'balloons' or 'chargers' - produced by a brand called Cream Deluxe. Each contains what's described online as "640g high purity food-grade N2O for extraordinary cocktails."
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Also known as 'hippie crack', nitrous oxide - which instills a feeling of euphoria in the user - is currently a political hot topic. Its sale to the public is to be banned as part of a wider crackdown on anti-social behaviour, the UK Government confirmed this week.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove called it a "scourge" which is turning public spaces into "drug-taking arenas." He added that it's also helping fuel the kind of anti-social behaviour that ministers want to stamp out.
Included as an anaesthetic in medical and dental procedures, and as a gas for helping dispense whipped cream, Mr Gove told Sky News that he wanted the sale of nitrous oxide "restricted for its appropriate purpose."
Also as part of the newly revealed anti-crime measures, minsters are aiming to make nitrous oxide a class C drug. This could see dealers and users facing both jail time and unlimited fines if caught.
And Cardiff Rivers Group - which has steadily grown since setting up back in 2009 - have conceded that, aside from the tonnes of general rubbish they recover whilst on their rounds, nitrous oxide has become an increasingly common sight.
However, they added that recycling the steel canisters can actually be a source for good. "This week we were happy to be able to help several fellow charities using funds raised from recycling nitrous oxide canisters," the group posted on their Facebook page earlier this year.
"We bought refurbished tools from Tools For Self Reliance Cymru and in turn passed them on to Oasis Cardiff and Grow Cardiff, who will hand them onto their volunteers and city-wide community gardens respectively.
"So that's a minimum of four charities (including us) benefitting - along with several community groups. Plus it's also addressing a waste problem, and all at no cost to the public purse."
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