How to Dispose of Brine

Brining is a brilliant technique to yield a flavorful roast, especially roasted fowl, like turkey or chicken. After you've finished brining, though, you have to use proper methods for the disposal of the brine. Is brine water hazardous? It can be in large quantities because of salt erosion. There are more than 10 ways to dispose of brine safely and efficiently, but you only need to use one or two.

The safest thing to do with old brine is to allow waste disposal experts to handle the job. Transfer it to glass or plastic jars or bottles when you're finished using your brine. You can use old water bottles you were going to throw away if you have any available.

Find out where to take it by calling city hall or your local environmental or health department. Speak with an employee and find out what to do with it. If you use a private company for garbage pickup, you can also call the company to see if it can take it. Once you discover where to go, bring your bottled brine to the correct location.

Is pickle juice bad for septic systems? In large quantities, it can be harmful. However, small amounts once in a while are OK. You also have some options for at-home brine disposal.

Moderate amounts of salty water won't hurt your plumbing or septic system, and because of that, you have a few options for brine disposal at home. Depending on how much you have, you can dump it down the drain in the kitchen sink. If you have more than a few brine cups, try to space it out and always thoroughly flush the sink by running the water after dumping the brine. A better alternative is to dilute the brine before dumping it down the drain by mixing it with equal parts plain water. Stir vigorously to combine them, wash them down the drain and then run the tap for a few seconds after you do so.

If you prefer, you can dump your brine into a more industrial drain in your home. If you have any outdoor drains, such as in your garage or an outdoor shower, use that one, as its plumbing should be designed to handle more corrosive elements.

Instead of throwing away your brine, there are a couple of ways you can reuse or repurpose it. The most obvious is to use it as a brine once again. If you have pickle juice or vegetable brine, use it to prepare a turkey or chicken; pickle brine turkey is incredibly delicious. If the brine already had meat in it, do not use it again for any consumption. Store your brine in the refrigerator between uses.

You need to be careful about disposing of brine at home, which is why experts recommend using a professional waste disposal site if you have more than a few cups of brine to get rid of. You might be tempted to use other methods for brine disposal, but they are also generally bad ideas that could harm the environment or the water in your area.

Never dump your brine outdoors, as this can devastate the local ecosystem of your garden or yard. Plants are particularly susceptible to sodium, and even a little bit of brine can quickly kill them. Do not dump your brine down a storm drain either; not only is it illegal in some places but that water typically leads to a fresh source that should not be polluted. This pollution could harm not only your drinking water but the drinking water of all those in your area.